Oklahoma Unable To Answer Texas Surge In 10-2 Loss

April 12, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Oklahoma baseball team was unable to overcome Texas' 10 run offensive explosion mid-way through the game as the Sooners eventually fell 10-2 Saturday afternoon at Disch-Falk Field. OU right fielder Matt Arkison accomplished a rare feat in baseball with an inside-the-park home run in the third inning to supply the Sooners' (13-18, 1-10 Big 12) first run and an early lead. However, the Longhorns (28-11, 11-3 Big 12) responded for 10 runs over the next four innings to create an insurmountable lead. OU starting pitcher Buddy Blair (2-5) suffered the loss, while UT starter J. P. Howell improved to 6-0.

Arkison staked Blair to a 1-0 lead with his inside-the-park home run in the third inning. Arkison's shot landed just beyond the outstretched glove of the diving Longhorn center fielder and bounced back to deep center field which allowed him to race around the bases for his second homer of the season.

The lead held up until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Longhorns plate two runs to take control of the lead. Two straight base hits and a fielder's choice brought home Texas' first run. With two outs, catcher Taylor Teagarden followed with a RBI triple to score the second run and give the Horns a 2-1 advantage.

Texas left fielder Eric Sultemeier increased the Longhorns lead with a two-run homer to left field in the fifth inning before the Longhorns exploded for six more scores over the next two innings to jump out to a 10-1 lead. In the sixth inning, UT batted around the lineup and scored their runs off three OU hurlers. Blair exited after giving up a lead off base hit and a sacrifice and was relieved by junior righthander Casey Brown. Brown walked his first two batters and then allowed two RBI base hits that accounted for three of the four runs in the frame. Sophomore reliever David Purcey entered the game following the two costly hits to secure the final two outs, but surrendered a sacrifice fly to left field in the process to allow the fourth run of the frame.

Teagarden hit a home run off Austin Mix, Oklahoma's fourth pitcher, to begin the seventh inning. Two straight errors by the Sooner infield allowed a second run to score in the inning.

Arkison and senior first baseman Luke Alexander (1-for-1) led off the ninth inning with back-to-back singles to spark a brief rally for the Sooners' final run. Following a ground out by freshman designated hitter Scott Rooker (0-for-1) which advanced both runners a base, Arkison scored on a ground out to shortstop by senior center fielder Reggie Willits (1-for-2).

Blair faced only one batter over the minimum in two of the first three frames before running into trouble in the fourth frame. He finished with his second highest strikeout total of the season with six strikeouts. His final line included seven hits, five runs (all earned), three walks and a wild pitch.

Junior righthander Mike Swindell (2-3) is slated to take the mound for the Sooners tomorrow in the series finale which starts at 1 p.m. at Disch-Falk Field. He will be opposed by Longhorn lefty Justin Simmons (3-4).

SOONER GAME NOTES:

* Senior center fielder Reggie Willits extended his current hitting streak to six games with a hit in today's contest. Willits owns the team's longest streak of the season with his career high 11-game stretch earlier in the year.

* Senior righthander Austin Mix continued to move up the school's all-time pitching appearances chart with his 65th career outing in today's game which places him in a tie for the sixth spot on the list. He ties former Sooner Kevin King who totalled 65 appearances from 1988-90.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Unable To Answer Texas Surge In 10-2 Loss

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors