No. 22 Oklahoma Nips Missouri 3-2 In The Ninth

NORMAN, Okla. - The 22nd-ranked Oklahoma Sooners took advantage of an error in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 2-2 tie and score the winning run to win 3-2 Friday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park. OU junior first baseman Ole Sheldon came home to score the winning run from third base after the Missouri shortstop mishandled the potential third out of the inning.

OU starting pitcher Mark Roberts lasted a season long 8.2 innings and gave way to junior reliever Daniel McCutchen (2-1) who sealed the final out in the ninth for his second win. With the win, the Sooners (20-11) matched their program best seven game winning streak in Big 12 Conference play as they improved to 8-2 in the league. Missouri dropped to 21-10-1 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play with the loss.

Box Score

“This was a game that we shouldn't have lost tonight, but it also looked like a game we shouldn't have won,” commented Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell after his team committed several costly errors.

“Roberts was outstanding for us again tonight. He did a great job of working out of jams and keeping us in the game,” continued Cochell.

Both runs charged to Roberts were unearned as a pair of Sooner errors prolonged the eighth and ninth innings and allowed single runs to score in each frame. Despite the no-decision, Roberts turned in one of his best pitching performances of the season. Up until the eighth inning, he did not face more than four batters in any inning. He struck out eight batters to extend his streak of striking out eight or more batters to seven straight starts.

OU broke the scoreless ballgame with a pair of runs in the seventh inning. The Sooners capitalized on a three-base error by the Missouri leftfielder on a dropped fly ball which placed junior designated hitter Eric Thornton (1-for-3) on third base. Sophomore catcher Brandon Lance (0-for-3) then stepped to the plate and brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right field to put OU ahead 1-0.

With the bases empty, Oklahoma manufactured their second run of the inning as junior shortstop Brenan Herrera (0-for-2) drew a walk, stole second base and scored on a RBI-single by junior centerfielder Jeff Scuderi (1-for-2)

Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Oklahoma lefty David Purcey (3-2) will oppose Missouri righthander Erik Dessau (5-2) on the mound. Fox Sports Net will televise the game live in the Big 12 region.

No. 22 Oklahoma Nips Missouri 3-2 In The Ninth

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No. 22 Oklahoma Nips Missouri 3-2 In The Ninth

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