Leathernecks Top No. 18 Sooners, 5-4, In Extra Frames

NORMAN, Okla. - Western Illinois used a bases loaded walk in the top of the 13th inning to bring home the game-winning run as the visiting Leathernecks topped the 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners 5-4 Wednesday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Both teams went through a host of pitchers as the Sooners sent seven hurlers to the mound, while the Leathernecks spent five of their own. Oklahoma dropped to 23-12 overall with its second extra inning loss in the last week. Western Illinois improved its season record to 16-23 with the win.

“We got some good pitching tonight, we just didn't get enough good at bats out of our offense,” commented OU head coach Larry Cochell.

Box Score

Junior designated hitter Eric Thornton (3-for-4) got the Sooners on the scoreboard in bottom of the second frame with a leadoff homer, his fourth of the season. Two more extra-base hits, including a triple by sophomore LaFringe Hayes (1-for-3) and a double by freshman catcher Josh Stinson (1-for-4), led to another run. The third run of the inning was plated when sophomore second baseman Russell Raley (3-for-5) brought in Stinson with a two out base hit.

The Leathernecks scored an unearned run in the fifth inning to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Sooners. WIU rightfielder Blake Schultz came around to score from second base on a throwing error by OU shortstop Ryan Rohlinger (1-for-6).

Leatherneck desginated hitter Kyle Malan tied the game with one swing of the bat in the seventh inning as his two run home run to left field knotted the game at 3-3.

After Western Illinois went ahead with a single run in the top of the 12th inning, Oklahoma responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame to keep the game going. Senior rightfielder Andrew McGuire (0-for-4) got things started as he extended his streak of reaching base safely to 29-straight games with a one out walk. Two batters later, junior first baseman Ole Sheldon (2-for-5) ripped a two out triple to right field to drive in McGuire and tie the game at 4-4.

Sheldon and junior centerfielder Jeff Scuderi (1-for-6) earlier in the game extended their career high hitting streaks to 12 games which matches the top individual streak by a Sooner this season.

The Sooners hit the road for a three-game Big 12 Conference set against No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas, this weekend. Friday and Saturday's games begin at 7 p.m., while Sunday's finale starts at 1 p.m.