Kansas Baseball Ends Series With 16-6 Rout of Oklahoma

April 20, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Kansas' offense exploded for 20 hits and a season high 16 runs in downing Oklahoma 16-6 in eight innings Sunday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The runs and hits totals given up by five Sooner pitchers tied a season high for the staff in both categories and led OU to their first run-rule defeat of the season. Senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo was OU's bright spot in the game as he went 3-for-3 at the plate, including a grand slam homer, and recorded a career high five RBI. Cornejo wrapped up an impressive series in which he batted .818 (9-for-11) with three runs scored and seven RBI. Oklahoma fell to 14-22 overall and 2-14 in the Big 12 Conference as Kansas improved to 31-16 and 6-9 in the league.

The game started to fall apart for Oklahoma in the fourth inning when Kansas broke a 1-1 tie and opened up a large lead with a seven-run frame. OU starting pitcher Mike Swindell (2-4) was accountable for the first four runs of the frame as he gave up four runs on three hits, a walk and a fielder's choice. Sophomore southpaw David Purcey relieved Swindell with two outs and surrendered three more runs on four more hits and a walk.

The Sooner pitching staff was hampered the rest of the contest with problems with giving up runs to lead off innings before securing outs. In the final four frames, a trio of OU pitchers allowed two runs in each of the innings with only one or no outs recorded. The second Jayhawk batter in the sixth and eighth innings clubbed two-run homers, while KU quickly got two runs on an RBI-double and sacrifice fly in the fifth and a fielder's choice and RBI-single in the seventh.

For the Sooners' first run of the game, sophomore right fielder Greg Kish (2-for-4) completed a two-out rally for the Sooners in the first inning. Kish connected on a RBI-single to center field to score Cornejo who began the rally by drawing a walk with two outs. Sophomore catcher Matt Bose (1-for-4) moved Cornejo into scoring position with a follow up base hit.

With the bases loaded in the fifth inning following back-to-back singles and a walk, Cornejo slugged his second home run of the season over the right field wall to plate all three runs and cut Kansas' lead in half at 10-5. Freshman third baseman Russell Raley (1-for-4), junior shortstop Denver Kitch (1-for-4) and senior center fielder Reggie Willits (1-for-3) all scored on the home run.

Willits scored his second run in the seventh frame after reaching third base on a single and two straight Kansas throwing errors that continued to move him around the bases. Cornejo singled to plate Willits for his fifth RBI of the game.

Oklahoma travels to Tulsa, Okla., to face Oral Roberts for its next contest on Tuesday. The game begins at 7 p.m. at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Kansas Baseball Ends Series With 16-6 Rout of Oklahoma

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