Sooner Baseball Fights Back For 10-8 Win Over Jayhawks

April 19, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma's bats came alive as the Sooners fought back from a 7-0 deficit to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks 10-8 Saturday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners scored runs in five of their last six times to the plate to complete the comeback as they recorded their second highest hit total of the season with 18 hits. The seven-run deficit was the largest the Sooners have had to overcome this season. OU claimed its second Big 12 Conference victory with the win to improve to 2-12 in the league and 14-21 overall. The loss dropped the Jayhawks to 30-16 overall and 5-9 in the Big 12.

After Kansas tied the game at 8-8 in the top of the seventh inning, Oklahoma responded with runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth frames. OU junior designated hitter Andrew McGuire (2-for-4) scored the winning run in the seventh after leading off the inning with a double and rounding third base in the next Sooner at bat on a throwing error by KU reliever Don Czyz (0-1). In the eighth, senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo (3-for-4) delivered a one out-single, stole second and scored on a double by senior first baseman Luke Alexander's (1-for-5).

Sophomore closer Jarod McAuliff shut down the Jayhawks over the final two innings to collect his fifth save of the season. The win improved fellow sophomore reliever David Purcey's record to 1-2 after he faced one batter in the top of the seventh inning and got out of the frame by enticing an inning-ending double play.

Oklahoma freshman third baseman Russell Raley (2-for-4) ignited the team's first rally in the third frame with the first of his two singles to spark four consecutive hits for the Sooners. Junior shortstop Denver Kitch (2-for-5) followed with a RBI-triple to drive in Raley for the Sooners' first run. After a bunt base hit by senior center fielder Reggie Willits (3-for-5) to place runners at the corners with one out, Cornejo doubled home Kitch and moved Willits to third base. Willits then advanced home on the next play on a ground out to second base to bring the score to 7-3.

The Sooners continued their rally in the next inning with three more runs to cut the Bear's lead to one at 7-6. OU batted around the lineup and again strung together four consecutive hits to drive in the runs. Sophomore right fielder Greg Kish (3-for-4) and Willits were credited with RBI-base hits, while Cornejo forced in the third run by drawing a bases loaded walk.

OU took captured their first lead of the game in the fifth inning with a pair of runs to take an 8-7 advantage. For the third straight inning, OU had success with getting its first several sluggers on base on a hit-by-pitch and two consecutive hits. A ground out double play by Raley brought home McGuire for the first run and a wild pitch by Czyz allowed sophomore left fielder Brandon Jones (1-for-3) to score from third base.

Although OU junior righthander Casey Brown gave up a grand slam home run to the first batter he faced after relieving starter Buddy Blair with the bases loaded and one out in the third, he silenced the KU bats over the next four innings to allow the Sooners to climb back into the game. Brown retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced following the home run and the one Jayhawk that did get on base reached on an error. Brown gave up a lead off double and a RBI-single in the top of the seventh inning before being lifted in favor of Purcey.

With an opportunity to secure their first Big 12 Conference series victory tomorrow, Oklahoma will send junior righthander Mike Swindell (2-3) to the mound to square off against Kansas senior lefty Kevin Wheeler (4-2). First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. OU Foam Noodles will be handed out prior to the game.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Baseball Fights Back For 10-8 Win Over Jayhawks

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