Sooners Prevail, 7-3, Over Bears In Lamar Tournament

Feb. 28, 2003

BEAUMONT, Texas - Down 3-0 through six innings, the Oklahoma baseball team fought back to score seven unanswered runs and defeat Southwest Missouri State Friday afternoon in their first game of competition in the Lamar Tournament of Champions Cardinal Classic at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Sophomore left fielder Tyler Johnson and junior third baseman Jay Yaconetti both provided multi-run homers to account for five of the runs scored and aid in the Sooners' comeback. Junior righthander Mark Roberts (3-0) turned in another solid pitching performance to help Oklahoma improve to 4-1 on the year. SMS dropped to 3-2 on the year with the loss.

The two teams were locked in a pitchers' duel through the first four innings as both hurlers held their opponent's to no runs on one hit for the first part of the game. The Bears finally tagged Roberts in the fifth inning as SMS took advantage of three hits and two walks for two runs before an out was secured. Southwest Missouri State plated its final run of the inning and the game as the runner at third base crossed home plate on a fielder's choice.

Southwest Missouri State starter Brad Ziegler (2-1) dominated Oklahoma's sluggers through the first six frames as he held the Sooners to only two hits and struck out eight. The Sooners finally got to Ziegler in the seventh inning as Yaconetti (1-for-4) got things started by reaching base on an error by the Bears' third baseman. He then moved to second on a walk to senior first baseman Luke Alexander (1-for-2) just ahead of sophomore designated hitter Matt Bose's (1-for-4) RBI-single which plated Yaconetti. Sophomore left fielder Tyler Johnson (1-for-3) then stepped to the plate and belted a three-run homer to give the Sooners' the lead at 4-3.

Yaconetti figured into another scoring effort for OU in the eighth inning as the Sooner bats stayed hot. His two-run homer, his second in as many games, came with two outs and scored senior center fielder Reggie Willits (1-for-4) who had singled two batters earlier. With the bases cleared, Alexander drew a walk, advanced to second base on a balk by SMS pitcher Jeff Claybrook and came home on a two-base error by the Bears' second baseman to give the Sooners' the decisive margin of victory.

After allowing the three runs in the fifth frame, Roberts settled in and surrendered only one hit over the next two innings. He uncharacteristically issued five walks in the contest, while striking out only three. Roberts worked seven complete innings for his third consecutive start and gave up a season-low five hits. Sophomore closer Jarod McAuliff came on to shutout the Bears over the final two frames in a non-save situation.

Oklahoma faces No. 22 Ohio State tomorrow in their second game of the tournament. Action begins at 1 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Prevail, 7-3, Over Bears In Lamar Tournament

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