Sooners Roll To 11-3 Win Over Oklahoma State At Big 12 Tourney

May 22, 2002

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ARLINGTON, Texas - The University of Oklahoma baseball team rolled to an 11-3 win over Oklahoma State in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournanent on Wednesday night at The Ballpark in Arlington. Behind 3-2 in the sixth inning, OU catcher Spencer Wyman ripped a two-run home run which gave OU a lead it wouldn't surrender. The Sooners then exploded for six runs in the in the seventh and one more in the eighth for the final margin. The win was Oklahoma's third over the Cowboys in the last six days and gives OU a 4-0 all-time record against OSU in Big 12 Tournament action. David Purcey (5-4) earned the win after pitching six innings and allowing three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits, while striking out six. Curtis White also pitched admirably, going three innings and allowing just two walks to the Cowboys.

"This was an outstanding win for us and our players really came to play," said Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell. "David (Purcey) pitched really well and kept us close, that's all you can ask. We got some really timely hits and scored when it mattered. I was really hoping our players didn't crack under the pressure of playing in the conference tournament, in this Major League ballpark. There were some jitters at first, but we came out and got a big win."

Reggie Willits and Spencer Wyman each went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. In addition, Willits scored three runs, while Wyman scored twice. Jason Fransz, Chris Jakubauskas, Matt Bose, Matt Fisher and Denver Kitch all had two hits for the Sooners.

"Tonight's game was a big one for us," said Willits. "Coach always tells us that it's how you finish that counts and I think we are really coming together as a ball club at the right time."

Oklahoma got on the board first, scoring a run on two hits in the first inning. Willits walked to lead off the frame and Eddie Cornejo singled to extend his season-long hitting streak to 13 games. Fransz then ripped a double off the wall in left center, bringing Willits home. Charlie Frasier was hit by a pitch to lead the bases with no outs, but Cowboy starter Scott Baker retired three consecutive batters to get out of the inning without any further damage.

OSU took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the third inning, but Oklahoma evened it at two in the fifth when Charlie Frasier singled to bring Willits in for his second run scored in the game. OSU promptly regained its lead when Nebasset Brown hit a solo home run to left center in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, OU catcher Spencer Wyman drilled a two-run home run to left center field, giving the Sooners a 4-3 lead and chasing Baker from the game. The Sooners exploded for six runs in the bottom of the seventh to take an insurmountable 10-3 lead. With two outs, Wyman, Matt Fisher and Denver Kitch all had RBI base hits, and then Willits cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field. The homer was Willits' third on the season and his first since April 16 vs. Texas-Arlington.

Oklahoma added one more run in the eighth when Matt Bose hit a bloop single to right, which brought Chris Jakubauskas home.

OU now plays the winner of Wednesday night's Texas-Texas A&M game on Thursday night at 8 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Roll To 11-3 Win Over Oklahoma State At Big 12 Tourney

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