Baseball Holds On For 5-4 Win Over Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Oklahoma successfully fended off a late Kansas surge to win its sixth straight game Saturday night 5-4 at Hoglung Ballpark. The Jayhawks scored single runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to pull to within a run, but junior closer Jarod McAuliff came on for the final two innings to shut the door on the Jayhawks and secure the Sooners' second straight Big 12 Conference series victory.

Remaining in first place in the league, Oklahoma improved to 18-10 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 Conference, its best mark ever to begin conference play. Kansas dropped to 22-13-1 overall and 1-4 in the conference.

“This ballgame showed what good pitching and defense can do for you,” said OU head coach Larry Cochell after the game. “Casey Brown came in and gave us two good innings and Daniel McCutchen also gave us a good inning. Except for the home run, Jarod McAuliff pitched well, too. He got their three, four and five hitters out in the ninth inning and they didn't stand a chance with his breaking ball working well for him tonight.”

Box Score

Junior third baseman Matt Bose and sophomore leftfielder Ryan Rohlinger each had three hits a piece to account for nearly half of the Sooners' 11 hits in the game. The three hits tied both players' career bests as Bose's hit total also helped him establish a new career long 10-game hitting streak. It also marked the fifth straight game that OU has posted 11 or more hits. Also of significance, the Sooners pounded out a season high five doubles.

The Sooners provided starting pitcher Ryan Mottern with a pair of early runs to play with in the top of the second inning. Junior designated hitter Eric Thornton (1-for-3) led off the frame with a double and, after moving over to third base, came home after a throw on a pick off attempt at the base went wide.

Two outs later, junior centerfielder Jeff Scuderi (1-for-3) drove in his fourth run of the series with a RBI-single to allow Bose to race around third base and slide home safely on a collision at the plate to extend OU's lead to 2-0.

Kansas got the two runs back in the bottom of the third inning to tie the score on a single blow by catcher Sean Richardson who's two run homer to left field also plated shortstop Ritchie Price.

Oklahoma posted single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh frames to jump out to a 5-2 lead. Bose doubled to lead off the fourth inning and scored on a fielder's choice by Scuderi.

In the fifth inning, Rohlinger singled and scored on a RBI-base hit by Bose.

Back-to-back doubles by Rohlinger and junior first baseman Ole Sheldon (1-for-4) added another run in the seventh frame to cap off the Sooners' scoring.

The Jayhawks fought back in the late innings with two runs to cut the Sooners' lead to 5-4. KU manufactured a run in their half of the seventh inning as a leadoff single by centerfielder Matt Baty turned into a run on a two out RBI-single by his brother Ryan, the Jayhawk first baseman.

Kansas third baseman Travis Metcalf welcomed McAuliff to the game with a leadoff home run in the eighth inning to further cut into the Oklahoma lead.

McAuliff however, recovered to get out of the eighth inning without any further damaged and retired the Jayhawks in order in the ninth inning for his fourth save. The appearance also moved the Stillwater, Okla., native into sole possession of second place on the school's all-time appearances list with his 79th career outing. He needs only five more appearances to break the record.

The series concludes tomorrow with the final game starting at 1 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark. Junior lefthander David Purcey (2-3) will throw for the Sooners and will be opposed by fellow junior lefty Mike Zagurski (3-1).

Baseball Holds On For 5-4 Win Over Kansas

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Baseball Holds On For 5-4 Win Over Kansas

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