Ninth Inning Rally Comes Up Short as Oklahoma Falls 6-4 To ORU

TULSA, Okla. - A ninth-inning rally came up short for the Sooners for the second-straight game as No. 26 Oral Roberts downed Oklahoma, 6-4, Tuesday night at J.L. Johnson Stadium. The Sooners played from behind for most of the night as the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 6-2 lead late in the game. Oklahoma (12-10) plated single runs in the seventh and eighth innings but were unable to convert in their final turn at bat. Oral Roberts improved to 17-4 on the season.

“We've had our opportunites the last three ballgames and haven't been able to get the job done. We can't take called third strikes with the bases loaded,” said OU head coach Larry Cochell.

Box Score

Junior third baseman Matt Bose (1-for-3) led off the Sooners' half of the ninth inning with a double. Junior shortstop Brenan Herrera (0-for-3) and sophomore centerfielder Scott Rooker (0-for-1) then loaded the bases by drawing walks.

With one out, ORU reliever Sean Sorrow picked up his first save of the season by striking out senior rightfielder Andrew McGuire (1-for-5) looking and getting sophomore second baseman Russell Raley (1-for-5) to fly out for the final out.

Two of OU's runs in the games were scored on solo home runs by junior first baseman Ole Sheldon (2-for-4) and junior desginated hitter Eric Thornton (1-for-3). Sheldon's shot led off the second inning to give OU an early 1-0 lead. Sheldon's homer extended his career high hitting streak to seven games.

Thornton drove his pitch to left field for his team-leading third roundtripper of the season to lead off the seventh inning.

The Golden Eagles put together a two out rally in the third frame to take the lead in the game for good. Centerfielder Matt VanDerBosch got the rally going with a single which was followed by a walk to second baseman Brian Hanson. The pair scored in the following at bat on a double down the left field line by shortstop Grant Plumley. First baseman Josh Lex then blooped a single into center field to drive in Plumley for the 3-1 advantage.

Oklahoma scratched back for a run in the fifth inning to pull to within a run at 3-2. Bose drew a walk and came around to score on sophomore pinch hitter LaFringe Hayes' (1-for-1) RBI-single.

With Sooners planted at first and second base with two outs, a single to right field by senior allowed Herrera to race around third base for an apparent third run, but the throw from ORU rightfielder Michael Lamb met Herrera at the plate to prevent the score and get the Golden Eagles out of the inning.

In response to OU's threat, ORU scored three runs in the next two frames to stretch a 6-2 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, a run scored after Plumley singled and a Sooner error in the outfield allowed the runner at second base to come home.

In the sixth inning, VanDerBosch clubbed a two out triple to drive in two more runs to extend the lead.

The Sooners host the Baylor Bears in their second Big 12 Conference series of the year. The series starts Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.