Oklahoma Crushes Southern Illinois, 20-4, In Baseball Action

March 12, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma offense exploded for season highs in runs and hits in a dominating 20-4 win over Southern Illinois Wednesday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park to complete a two-game sweep over the Salukis. The back-breaking blow by the Sooners came in the bottom of the eighth inning when they pounded out nine runs. All but two of the 15 players that stepped to the plate for OU collected hits in the 21 hit team effort. Three Sooners blasted home runs to account for eight of the game runs, including one by freshman pinch hitter Scott Rooker who contributed a three-run shot in his first collegiate at bat. The Sooners (10-3) sent the Salukis back home with a 6-7 record.

The Sooners batted around the lineup in the nine-run eighth inning beginning with sophomore pinch hitter Ben Pinkston's (2-for-2) single off the right field wall. After a quick strikeout by sophomore third baseman Matt Bose (1-for-4) for the first out in the next at bat, SIU pitcher Josh Joiner loaded the bases with two consecutive walks. Junior pinch hitter Denver Kitch (1-for-2) slugged a three-run double down the left field line to empty the bases. Kitch eventually came around to score on Rooker's homer to left field three batters later.

OU continued its onslaught following Rooker's home run with six-straight hits to record the final two runs of the frame. Pinkston hit another shot off the wall in center field in his second at bat of the inning to score a run and sophomore pinch hitter Greg Kish (2-for-2) knocked in another run with his second base hit of the game.

After jumping out to a 2-0 advantage in the first inning, Oklahoma plated five more runs in the third to open up a 7-3 lead. Senior right fielder Matt Arkison (2-for-3) started off the frame with a double which began a string of three straight hits ending with a RBI base hit by senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo (3-for-5) to score Arkison. Following a walk to senior first baseman Luke Alexander (1-for-3) to load the bases, Bose lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home another run. Junior left fielder Andrew McGuire (1-for-2) cleared the bases in the next at bat with his third home run of the year to give him a career high three RBI.

Oklahoma chalked up single runs in the fifth and sixth innings on RBI hits by Bose and freshman second baseman Russell Raley (2-for-3). The Sooners plated two more runs in the seventh inning on a two-run homer by junior catcher Spencer Wyman (1-for-4) to extend the lead to 11-4 before the team exploded for their nine run inning in the next frame.

The Salukis played the Sooners close through the first four innings as they put up a two spot in the second frame and single runs in the third and fourth innings to narrow Oklahoma's lead to 7-4 heading into the fifth. Two of the runs came in the second inning, tying the game at 2-2, on SIU catcher Toby Barnett's (2-for-3) first home run of the season. Two throwing errors by Oklahoma junior starting pitcher Charlie House (1-2) led to unearned runs in the third and fourth frames.

House picked up his first win in his first start of the season. He worked around five hits and three errors in six innings of work. Although he was responsible for all four Saluki runs, House walked only one batter and struck out four.

Sophomore hurlers David Purcey and Jarod McAuliff combined to hold Southern Illinois scoreless on four hits over the final three innings to insure the victory and two-game sweep.

Oklahoma heads west this weekend for a three game set against the top-ranked team in the nation, Arizona State. The series begins Friday at 8 p.m. on Friday. Saturday and Sunday's start times are also set for at 8 p.m. at Packard Stadium.

SOONER GAME NOTES:

* The Sooners collected double-digits in hits for the sixth-straight game.

* Sophomore utility player Matt Bose and senior outfielders Matt Arkison and Reggie Willits set new career high hitting streaks in today's game. Arkison extended his to six games, while Willits' and Bose's new career long streaks of nine games each are individual season bests on the club.

* Sophomore outfielder Greg Kish tied his career highs in runs scored and hits with two a piece. Junior shortstop Denver Kitch matched his career best with three RBI, senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo equalled his career high of three hits for the third time this season and senior right fielder Matt Arkison tied a career mark in runs scored with three.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Crushes Southern Illinois, 20-4, In Baseball Action

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