Errors Plague Sooners In 4-1 Loss to Roadrunners

Feb. 15, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Three Sooner errors and a stifling Roadrunner pitching effort contributed to the Oklahoma baseball team's first loss of 2003 as Texas-San Antonio upended OU 4-1 Saturday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners were also hurt at the plate as they failed to make clutch hits and consequently stranded 11 baserunners, including eight in scoring position. Two Texas-San Antonio pitchers combined to shutdown OU's offense on three hits the night after the Sooners exploded for 15 hits in the series opener. Oklahoma drops to 1-1 on the year, while Texas-San Antonio (1-5) picks up its first win of 2003.

"We just didn't execute today and that's what it came down to," commented OU head coach Larry Cochell following the loss. "We didn't swing the bats well. Lefthanded pitchers like that that keep the ball down and away from you are hard to hit if you don't make adjustments."

UTSA starting hurler Trey Rice (1-1) fooled OU hitters throughout the game as he only allowed two hits and one run in 5.1 innings of work. Rice finished his outing with six strikeouts and six walks. Roadrunner reliever Scott Sanders picked up his first save after holding the Sooners to only one hit over the final 3.2 innings in the game.

Buddy Blair (0-1), OU's starter, fell into an early hole by surrendering four runs through the first three innings. The Roadrunners got on the scoreboard in the first inning for the second consecutive game on two straight hits and a sacrifice bunt to plate a run.

Several OU errors in the second inning led to two more UTSA runs. With two outs and a runner at second base, sophomore first baseman Matt Bose (1-for-4) failed to hold on to the throw at the bag which allowed the runner to score from second. A passed ball and a wild pitch then advanced San Antonio second baseman J.R. Voyles (1-for-4), who had reached base on the error, to third base. Voyles stole home as Bose committed his second error of the inning as he bobbled the ball on a failed pick off attempt on the front end of the Roadrunners' double steal attempt.

UTSA plated its final run in the third frame after a leadoff single by first baseman Lucas Stewart (2-for-4) came around to score on a sacrifice two batters later by right fielder Philip Gentry (1-for-3) to give the Roadrunners a 4-0 advantage.

Oklahoma cut the lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning when it plated its lone run of the game. Senior right fielder Matt Arkison (0-for-4) led off with a walk and moved to second on the second walk of the frame issued to senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo (0-for-4). Arkison used his speed to score two batters later on a RBI-single by Bose.

Senior center fielder Reggie Willits turned in the Sooners most consistent offensive effort of the afternoon by going 2-for-4 at the plate and swiping his third base on the year.

Following the early setback, Blair settled in and sat down 10 of the last 14 batters he faced. He finished off his final three full innings facing the minimum in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. Only two of the four runs charged to him were earned due to the costly Sooner miscues.

Junior righthanded reliever Charlie House made his Oklahoma debut and retired the first three batters he faced after Blair gave up a single before leaving at the top of the seventh inning. In three innings of work, House gave up only two hits and finished off with a perfect ninth inning.

The two teams square off tomorrow in the rubber match of the series at 1 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Errors Plague Sooners In 4-1 Loss to Roadrunners

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