Sooners Drop 9-4 Contest To No. 4 Sun Devils

April 30, 2003

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Despite out-hitting fourth-ranked Arizona State, the Oklahoma baseball team came up short on the scoreboard as they fell 9-4 to the Sun Devils Wednesday night at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark. The Sooner offense produced 11 hits, as opposed to the Sun Devils' nine, but at least one of ASU's hits was costly as a pinch hit grand slam home run in Arizona State's six-run seventh inning leveled the biggest blow to OU in the game. Oklahoma was unable to capitalize on a brief two-game winning streak and dropped to 16-25 on the year as Arizona State improved to 43-9.

The two teams battled to a 2-2 tie until the costly seventh inning for the Sooners. The Sun Devils plated six runs in the frame with four coming off pinch hitter Rod Allen's grand slam home run. After OU sophomore reliever David Purcey (1-3) loaded the bases and allowed the tie-breaking run to score, junior righthander Mike Swindell relieved Purcey and gave up the grand slam on his first offering to the plate as he sent the pitch over the center field fence. The Sun Devils continued to bat around the order and plated one more run as a walk to Andre Ethier moved around to score on a base hit by designated hitter Jeremy West for the 8-2 lead.

Down, but not out, the OU offense responded to ASU's big inning with a rally of its own in the bottom of the frame. Oklahoma junior shortstop Denver Kitch (0-for-4) drew a one out walk and moved to second on a single by Willits. Senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo (2-for-3) then stepped to the plate and brought Kitch home with a RBI-single which advanced senior center fielder Reggie Willits (2-for-4) to second. One of sophomore right fielder Greg Kish's (3-for-4) career high three hits then loaded the bases for sophomore first baseman Matt Bose (3-for-5) who drove Willits in with a single, which also tied his career best for hits in a game. However, the two runs is all the Sooners managed as a ground ball double play ended the rally at two runs as OU cut the ASU lead in half at 8-4.

The four runs was as close as the Sooners came to catching the Sun Devils as ASU scored an unearned run in the top of the ninth inning for the final winning margin of victory.

Early in the first inning, the Sooners capitalized on a one out triple by Willits to score an early run and take a 1-0 lead. Following Willits' triple, Cornejo walked to set up Kish for an opportunity for plate Willits with a sacrifice fly to right field.

In the third inning, Oklahoma scored a two-out run to take a brief 2-1 lead after Arizona State tied the game with a score in the top of the frame. Cornejo's second straight walk started the rally with two away as he also swiped second base to move into scoring position. Kish then drove in his second run of the game with a RBI-single to bring Cornejo home and give the Sooners a 2-1 advantage.

ASU manufactured the tying run in the top of the fifth inning as a one out single by second baseman Steve Garrabrants and two straight steals put him in position to score on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Dustin Pedroia for the 2-2 tie.

Oklahoma starting pitcher Austin Mix made his 68th career outing to move into a tie for fourth place on the school's all-time appearances list. He was lifted after pitching 4.2 innings and giving up only two runs on four hits. His three strikeouts also pulled him to within nine of breaking the school's career record. Mix also moved to within 9.1 innings of breaking OU's all-time innings pitched mark.

The Sooners host the Texas Tech Red Raiders this weekend at L. Dale Mitchell Park in their final Big 12 Conference home series of the year. The series begins Friday at 7 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Drop 9-4 Contest To No. 4 Sun Devils

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