Oklahoma Captures Solid 3-1 Win Over No. 19 Texas A&M

April 4, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma baseball team claimed its first Big 12 Conference victory of the season with a 3-1 victory over 19th-ranked Texas A&M Friday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners (13-13, 1-6 Big 12) rolled off their second win in a row where the team put together a complete effort with pitching, defense and timely hitting. OU produced its fifth errorless performance of the season, limited the Aggies to only seven hits and received quality at bats with runners in scoring position. Texas A&M fell to 24-10 overall and evened its league record at 5-5 with the loss.

OU starting pitcher Mark Roberts (4-1) turned in one of his top performances of the season as he scattered five hits, allowed one run and struck out seven in seven innings of work. Except for the second inning when the Aggies scored their lone run, Roberts didn't allow more than one batter on base in any of his other six innings. At one point during the fourth inning and into the fifth frame, he struck out four of the five batters that stepped up to the plate.

Down 1-0 in the third inning after three A&M base hits led to a run in the top of the second frame, OU captured the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. An error by the Aggies' first baseman on a ball put in play by OU senior center fielder Reggie Willits (1-for-4) scored junior shortstop Denver Kitch (2-for-4), who began the frame with a single and a steal of second, for the first Sooner run. OU senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo (2-for-4) delivered a clutch RBI double to drive in Willits on the next play to break the tie and give the Sooners the lead at 2-1.

The Sooners added an insurance run in the eighth inning as they took advantage of another A&M error to pad their lead at 3-1. Willits collected his first base hit of the game to lead off the frame and moved to third base on a throwing error by A&M starting pitcher Logan Kensing (5-4). He crossed home plate on the following play, a sacrifice fly to center field by junior third baseman Jay Yaconetti (0-for-3).

Sophomore righthander Jarod McAuliff came on to pitch the final two innings and pick up his fourth save of the season and second in as many games. McAuliff allowed only two hits to begin his first frame of work, but worked his way out of the jam and continued to hold the Aggies scoreless the rest of the way.

The two teams return to action tomorrow with a 3 p.m. start time at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Both squads will start lefthanders on the mound in the series' second game with junior lefty Buddy Blair (2-4) throwing for the Sooners and senior southpaw Zach Dixon (4-1) starting for the Aggies.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Captures Solid 3-1 Win Over No. 19 Texas A&M

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