Oklahoma Baseball Nipped By Oral Roberts, 3-2

TULSA, Okla. - Oral Roberts recorded a key RBI-double in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 deadlock as they held on to defeat Oklahoma, 3-2, Tuesday night at J.L. Johnson Stadium. After getting the lead runner on base in four of the first six innings, the Sooners were unable to reach base in the final 2.2 frames in order to ignite a comeback. OU starting pitcher Buddy Blair suffered the loss to fall to 2-6 on the year as the team's record fell to 14-23. The win completed a two-game series sweep for ORU (20-17).

In the seventh inning, Oral Roberts right fielder Mike Lamb dumped a two-out double into left field to scored second baseman Scott Campbell from second base for the tie-breaking run. Blair gave up his first hit in three innings with one out and then gave up a second after securing the second out of the frame. Blair was lifted following the second hit and junior righthander Casey Brown came on and surrendered the game-winning RBI-double to Lamb.

Oklahoma manufactured an early run in the first inning sparked by a lead off single by junior shortstop Denver Kitch (2-for-5). Kitch's speed allowed him to move all the way to third base on a sacrifice bunt by senior center fielder Reggie Willits' (1-for-2) which put him in position to score on senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo's (0-for-4) ground out to first base.

Blair pitched a clean game through the first two innings before running into trouble in the third. Blair gave up a lead off single, walked the second batter and allowed his second hit of the inning to load the bases. With no outs, ORU shortstop Greg Plumley ripped a double down into the left field corner to plate the first two runs. However, a strong throw by OU left fielder Brandon Jones (1-for-4) and relayed in by Cornejo gunned down the third Golden Eagles baserunner attempting to score at home. Blair recovered and was able to secure two quick outs following the two scores. Oral Roberts took the lead for the first time in the game at 2-1.

The Sooners fought back at the top of the next inning and scored a run to knot the game at 2-2. OU mirrored ORU's effort and loaded the bases on two singles and a walk with no outs. OU was only able to muster one run in the frame after a failed sacrifice fly to shallow right field accounted for the first out before Jones grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed sophomore catcher Matt Bose (1-for-4) to come home from third base.

OU got the lead runner on and a runner in scoring position in the fifth and sixth frames, but was unable to convert the opportunities for runs.

Minus the third inning when the Golden Eagles scored their two runs, Blair fooled the Oral Roberts hitters in five of his other full frames. Blair faced the minimum in three of the innings and only gave up a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the other two.

The Sooners now look towards the annual Bedlam battle with the Oklahoma State Cowboys this weekend. The series opens at 7 p.m. Friday night at Driller's Stadium in Tulsa and concludes with two games in Oklahoma City at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Baseball Nipped By Oral Roberts, 3-2

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