Blair Pitches Sooners To 7-0 Win, Big 12 Tournament Berth

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Buddy Blair turned in his top performance of the season and led OU to a 7-0 victory and a spot in this week's conference tournament. The Sooners' first shutout of the season clinched a spot in the tournament and salvaged the final game of the three-game set at Taylor Stadium. The Sooner offense also helped the effort, pounding out 16 hits. Six players registered multi-hit performances. OU senior center fielder Reggie Willits' and freshman third baseman Russell Raley's both led the way with a pair of three-hit efforts. OU ended the regular season with a 22-29 overall and 10-17 Big 12 record, while MU finished at 34-18 overall and 15-11 in the league.

Blair worked out of trouble throughout the first four innings. He left a pair of baserunners stranded on base in each of the first four frames, including four in scoring position, and escaped unscathed. Blair was at his best late in the game as he retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced. He allowed only five hits in his eight innings of work and struck out six batters, while walking only three.

Oklahoma scored three runs in the second inning to take an early lead. Sophomore first baseman Matt Bose (2-for-4) ignited the Sooners' rally with a single to begin the inning and after a wild pitch and a ground out advanced him to third base, he crossed home plate on a double by junior catcher Spencer Wyman (2-for-5). Pinch hitter Andrew McGuire (1-for-2) followed with a base hit to right field which moved Wyman to third base to put him in position to score on senior designated hitter Matt Arkison's (0-for-3) ground out to shortstop. Raley then singled up the middle to plate McGuire for OU's third run of the frame.

In the third inning, Oklahoma plated another run to extend its lead to 4-0. Willits led off the frame with a double in to the left field corner and swiped his conference-leading 35th base of the year to wind up at third base with no outs. Bose then scored Willits by lifting a sacrifice fly to right field.

With two outs and Sooners at first and second base, senior second baseman Eddie Cornejo (1-for-4) drove a pitch to left-center field to bring home Raley and Willits to tag on two insurance runs and give OU a 7-0 lead.

Sophomore relief ace Jarod McAuliff came on to pitch the ninth inning and retire the Tigers in order to complete the shutout. The combined shutout was the first of both Blair and McAuliff's careers.

Oklahoma's seeding for this week's Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament will depend on the outcome of today's Kansas-Kansas State contest. In the event that OU winds up the eighth seed, OU will face the No. 1 seed at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night. If the Sooners are seeded seventh, Oklahoma will play the No. 2 seed at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Blair Pitches Sooners To 7-0 Win, Big 12 Tournament Berth

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors