Oklahoma Baseball Downs Southern Illinois, 10-2

March 11, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma baseball team displayed its power in a 10-2 win over Southern Illinois Tuesday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners (9-3) connected on eight extra base hits in the game, including two home runs and six doubles. Senior center fielder Reggie Willits accounted for two of those hits as his career high three hit performance included a home run and a double. The Salukis' record evens out at 6-6 with the loss.

"I was pleased with the way we put a complete game together today. We played flawless defense, hit the ball well and pitched well," said OU head coach Larry Cochell. "We received the kind of pitching performance out of Austin Mix we expect and that he his capable of giving us on a consistent basis."

For the second time in the last three games, an Oklahoma starting pitcher went the distance for the win. Senior righthander Austin Mix finished off his fifth career complete game and struck out nine batters while giving up only five hits. Mix's only mistake of the game came in the fifth inning when Saluki outfielder Matt Brewer (2-for-3) tagged him for a two-run homer to account for the only SIU runs. With the win, the Coppell, Texas, native improved to 2-0 on the season in his first start of 2003.

The Sooner offense staked Mix to an early lead as OU jumped out to a 9-0 advantage after four innings. Four of the runs came courteousy of sophomore Matt Bose's (2-for-4) two-run homer in the third inning and Willits' two-run shot in the next frame.

Willits helped get things started for OU back in the first inning as he followed senior right fielder Matt Arkison's (2-for-2) leadoff walk with a double. Senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo (0-for-4) then grounded out to shortstop to drive Arkison home from third base for the first run of the game. Willits scored two batters later on senior designated hitter Luke Alexander's (3-for-4) RBI-double to give Oklahoma a 2-0 edge.

Crowned Big 12 Conference Player of the Week earlier in the day, junior third baseman Jay Yaconetti was held hitless in four at bats, but still managed to contribute to the team's effort as he reached base on an error in the third inning and came around to score a run for the fifth straight game. Alexander's second double of the contest allowed Yaconetti to hustle around and cross home plate.

Junior catcher Spencer Wyman (1-for-4) got in on the Sooners' doubles act as his two-bagger in the fourth inning plated junior shortstop Denver Kitch (0-for-3) just prior to Willits' second home run of the year.

Willits capped off his career day by driving in his third run of the contest, tying a career best, with a two-out single in the sixth frame. He also extended his current hitting streak to eight games which ties his career mark.

The two teams finish the brief two-game series tomorrow with a 3 p.m. first pitch at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The game will feature $.50 hot dogs and Cokes as one of two special promotions for the game. It is also Web Site Wednesday where a Soonersports.com coupon is good for a regular adult general admission ticket of $2 ($3 off the regular price). The promotion is based on ticket availablityand limited to a maximum of four people per coupon.

SOONER GAME NOTES:

* Senior righthander Austin Mix moved up three spots on OU's career strikeouts list by fanning nine in the game. Mix is now tied with former Sooner Bob Shirley (1973-75) for third place on the chart and is 24 strikeouts shy of breaking the all-time record.

* Mix also moved up a position on the school's all-time innings pitched chart with his nine frame outing. He is now the sole owner of the No. 3 spot with 290.1 career innings logged. Mix trails record holder Scott Gardner (1977-78) by 29 innings.

* Several Sooner sluggers broke and tied career long hitting streaks by collecting a hit in today's game. Sophomore utility player Matt Bose now has a new eight-game hitting streak, while the senior outfield duo of Matt Arkison and Reggie Willits tied their career bests at five games and eight games, respectively.

* Arkison also tied his career high in runs scored with three against the Salukis. He set the original mark last year against Lamar (2/23/02).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Baseball Downs Southern Illinois, 10-2

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