Baseball Comes From Behind For 5-4 Win Over Baylor

NORMAN, Okla. - A two-base error in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed the go-ahead runners to score as Oklahoma came from behind to defeat Baylor 5-4 Friday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park in the opening game of the three game series. Sophomore second baseman Russell Raley went 3-for-5 at the plate and delivered two key hits which allowed three runs to score in the game, including the winning runs. OU closer Jarod McAuliff came on for the final two innings to pick up the win to improve to 4-0 on the year. Baylor fell to 9-15 overall and evened its record to 2-2 in league play.

For the third game in a row, the Sooners (13-10, 2-2 Big 12) had a chance to win the game in their last at bat and this time caused some problems on the basepaths to create the tying and winning runs. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, sophomore pinch hitter Scott Rooker and senior rightfielder Andrew McGuire (1-for-4) both drew one out walks.

When Rooker took a hard turn at third base on Raley's infield hit, the Baylor second baseman chose to throw to third base to try and get Rooker out and threw the ball into the Sooner dugout. The errant throw was ruled a two base error and allowed both Rooker and McGuire to come home for the winning runs.

Box Score

OU starting pitcher Mark Roberts worked the first seven innings and surrendered three runs on nine hits and fanned eight batters. His strikeout total gave the senior righthander eight or more strikeouts for the fifth straight contest. After giving up a two run homer to Baylor third baseman Michael Griffin in the third inning, Roberts finished strong by shutting out the Bears over his final four frames. He exited the game with the score tied at three.

“Mark Roberts pitched well tonight. He just made a mistake to (Michael) Griffin and went on to have four shutout innings after that,” added Cochell.

After a leadoff triple scored to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning, the Sooners struck back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Oklahoma led off their half of the frame with three straight singles, two of which were bunt base hits. WIth the bases loaded, a wild pitch by Baylor starter Mark McCormick allowed the first run to come home from third and beat the throw back to the plate.

After the remaining baserunners moved up on the wild pitch, junior first baseman Ole Sheldon (0-for-4) knocked in the second run with a groundout to third base to plate Raley.

Baylor regained the lead in the third frame on Griffin's two-run shot.

Following the early scores, both starters settled in to toss scoreless ball the next three innings.

The Sooners ended the scoring drought in the seventh inning as they tied the game at 3-3 by scoring a run. Junior shortstop Brenan Herrera (0-for-3) reached base on an error to lead off the inning. Standing at second base with two outs, Raley hit an infield single which allowed Herrera to hustle around third base and beat the throw to the plate after Baylor unsuccessfully recorded the out on Raley at first base.

Baylor, however, responded at the top of the eighth inning with a run to take back the lead at 4-3. The Bears manufactured a run following a leadoff single that was sacrificed to second base and came around to score on a double by leftfielder Reid Brees.

Oklahoma and Baylor square off tomorrow in game two of the series at 2 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Freshman righthander Ryan Mottern (0-0) will make his second start and will be opposed by junior lefthander Trey Taylor (2-3).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Baseball Comes From Behind For 5-4 Win Over Baylor

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