Sooner Baseball Suffers 11-9 Setback To Mavericks

NORMAN, Okla. - Three late Texas-Arlington runs in the final two innings sent Oklahoma to an 11-9 defeat Tuesday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park in the Sooners' season home finale. With the Sooners clinging to a 9-8 lead, the Mavericks knotted up the game in the eighth by plating a single run and then scored the winning runs in the top of the ninth inning to capture the lead for good. Mavericks left fielder Hunter Pence hurt Oklahoma (21-27) single-handedly with two multiple run homers to account for five of Texas-Arlington's (32-31) runs in the game.

Pence hit the first of his two home runs, a two-run shot, in the top of the first inning to set the Sooners back 2-0. Oklahoma then scratched back with a single run in the bottom of the second inning as sophomore right fielder Greg Kish (0-for-3) led off the frame with a walk and advanced around to third base on a sacrifice and a balk. He then scored on a bloop single to right field by junior shortstop Denver Kitch (1-for-4) to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

After the Mavericks scored a single run in the top of the fourth frame to take a 3-1 lead, the Sooners responded with a six-run inning to capture a 7-3 lead. Oklahoma batted through the lineup in the inning as senior center fielder Reggie Willits (2-for-5) started off the frame with a double, stole third base and scored on a fielding error by the UTA second baseman. UTA starting pitcher B.J. Brandenberger then walked the bases loaded and forced home a run with his third walk of the inning. With the bases still loaded, Kitch lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate another run just prior to senior designated hitter Matt Arkison's (1-for-3) three-run homer to left field which capped off the inning.

OU's lead was short-lived as UTA regained the lead by answering with a five-run frame in the top of the fourth inning to go ahead 8-7. The Mavericks used a two-RBI double by designated hitter Kasey Baker and Pence's second homer, a three-run blast, to plate the runs.

OU captured its second lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth frame by scoring two runs to edge UTA 9-8. The Sooners strung together four straight hits ending with senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo's (3-for-3) which drove in freshman third baseman Russell Raley (1-for-4) who was responsible for the first base hit of the inning. The Sooners then took the lead on sophomore first baseman Matt Bose's (0-for-4) sacrifice fly to center field.

Junior reliever Mike Swindell (2-5) suffered the loss on the mound for the Sooners. Swindell gave up three runs on six hits in the final five frames of the game. Swindell came on in relief for starter Austin Mix who lasted four innings and was responsible for the first eight UTA runs of the game.

The Sooners travel to Columbia, Mo., this weekend to take on the Missouri Tigers at Phi Delta Theta Stadium at Simmons Field. Friday and Saturday's start times are at 6:30 p.m. with Sunday's game starting at 1 p.m.

SOONER GAME NOTES:

* Senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo extended his season long hitting streak to 11 games which ties the team's individual best for the year which was set by senior center fielder Reggie Willits.

* Senior center fielder Reggie Willits' 34th stolen base in the game moved him into a tie for seventh place on the school's single-season stolen base record. The mark is also held by former Sooner Keith Drumright who accomplished the feat in 1976.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Baseball Suffers 11-9 Setback To Mavericks

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