No. 1 Longhorns Use Long Ball For 3-1 Win Over No. 23 Sooners

NORMAN, Okla. - Three solo home runs were all that top-ranked Texas needed to down No. 23 Oklahoma, 3-1, Friday night in the Big 12 Conference series opener for both schools at L. Dale Mtichell Park. Sooner starting pitcher David Purcey (2-2) suffered his second loss of the season by allowing three of his six hits allowed to leave the ballpark. Oklahoma fell to 11-8 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 play, while Texas won its 15th-straight game to move to 25-2 overall and 1-0 in the league.

“David pitched extremely well tonight. He just left three pitches up and he paid for it,” OU head coach Larry Cochell said of his starting pitcher.

“You're not going to have many chances to score on this team and we had a good opportunity to score in the third inning and didn't and it hurt us.”

Box Score

The first two Longhorn home runs were shots that led off the fifth and sixth innings. Rightfielder Ryan Russ led off the fifth with his first career home run, while catcher Taylor Teagarden collected his second home run of the season to start things off in the sixth. Both shots were to left field.

The Sooners mustered a run off Longhorns starter J.P. Howell (5-1) in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull to within a run at 2-1. Junior first baseman Ole Sheldon (2-for-4) collected a one out single and moved to second on a follow up hit by junior third baseman Matt Bose (2-for-4). Following the second out of the inning, senior rightfielder Andrew McGuire (2-for-3) knocked in Sheldon for the Sooners' lone run of the game. Earlier in the contest, McGuire extended his career high hitting streak to seven games with another single.

With one out in the seventh inning, leftfielder Carson Kainer got the run back with another long ball to left field to make the score 3-1.

Oklahoma's only other promising scoring opportunity came in the second frame when the Sooners loaded the bases with one out. Bose and McGuire both reached base on singles and a walk to junior designated hitter Kyle Bradburry (0-for-2) loaded the bases. However, Howell collected two of his nine strikeouts on the night to record the final two outs and get out of the jam unscathed.

Despite his second straight loss, Purcey again delivered another standout performance. He tied his career high of 10 strikeouts and issued only one free pass in seven innings of work. Juniors Jarod McAuliff and Daniel McCutchen pitched an inning a piece of scoreless ball to finish up the game.

The rivalry continues tomorrow with a 2 p.m. start time at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Freshman righthander Ryan Mottern (0-0) is expected to make his first career start. He will be opposed by senior lefthander Justin Simmons (4-1).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

No. 1 Longhorns Use Long Ball For 3-1 Win Over No. 23 Sooners

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