Texas Tech Hands No. 13 Oklahoma 14-4 Loss

LUBBOCK, Texas - A day after losing by a 10-4 score, the Texas Tech Red Raiders turned the tables on 13th-ranked Oklahoma and defeated the Sooners, 14-4, Saturday afternoon at Dan Law Field. The Red Raiders took advantage of control problems by the Sooner pitching staff and caused havoc on the basepaths by tying a school record with 10 stolen bases. Oklahoma was unable to capitalize on baserunners in each inning and left 10 baserunners standed, including six in scoring position. OU (26-15, 13-4 Big 12) dropped to second place in the Big 12 standings with the loss and a win by No. 1 Texas. Tech improved to 26-13 overall and 7-6 in the league with the league.

“We didn't hold guys on well and we just did an overall poor job of pitching today,” said OU head coach Larry Cochell after the game. “We had all kinds of opportunities to break the game open early and put the game away offensively and didn't.”

Box Score

Four Sooner hurlers combined to tie the team's season high in walks with eight and hit a season high five batters. Starting pitcher David Purcey (5-4) was charged with the loss after allowing eight of the runs (six earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out only three.

Texas Tech third baseman Josh Haney inflicted the most damage on Oklahoma as he was responsible for four of Tech's 10 hits and drove in five runs. He hit a solo home run in the third inning and a pair of two-RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings.

Things looked promising for Oklahoma early in the contest. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Rohlinger (3-for-5) led off the second inning with his fifth home run of the season, tying him for the team lead in the category. The Sooners added another run in the frame as they followed Rohlinger's blast with two singles and a fielder's choice before sophomore catcher Brandon Lance (0-for-1) brought home junior third baseman Brenan Herrera (0-for-3) with a sacrifice fly to right field.

OU's 2-0 lead didn't last long as Texas Tech tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Without the value of a hit, the Red Raiders manufactured two runs by forcing Purcey to make mistakes. An error by Herrera allowed the first Red Raider to reach base and Purcey followed by forcing home a run after loading the bases on a walk and back-to-back hit batters. Purcey then settled down to record two straight outs, with one being a sacrifice fly to bring home another run.

Oklahoma's patience at the plate in the sixth inning paid off in the form of two runs. The Sooners loaded the bases on a single and two walks and pushed home a run when sophomore pinch hitter Scott Rooker (0-for-1) drew a two out walk. With the bases still loaded, unior centerfielder Jeff Scuderi (1-for-3) was then hit by a pitch to bring in another run and cut Texas Tech's lead to one run at 5-4.

That was as close as the Sooners would get as the Red Raiders scored in each of their final three turns at bat. In addition to Haney's performance at the plate, other offensive stars for Tech included catcher Cooper Fouts who drove in four runs, centerfielder Cody Fuller who drove in two and scored two more and shortstop Cameron Blair who recorded two RBI and scored a run.

Tech starting pitcher Dallas Braden evened his season record at 3-3 by picking up the win and Corey Gerstner secured his first save of the year by pitching the final 3.1 frames.

The rubber match of the series takes place on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Dan Law Field. Oklahoma will send senior righthander Mike Swindell (2-2) to the mound, while Texas Tech will throw junior righthander Michael McGowan (2-1) on the hill.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Texas Tech Hands No. 13 Oklahoma 14-4 Loss

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