Sooners Defeat UTPA, 12-2

NORMAN, Okla. - The 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (33-18) topped the Texas-Pan American Broncs (22-30) Saturday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park, 12-2.

Junior left-hander David Purcey (7-4) started for the Sooners and logged a career-high 12 strikeouts in seven innings of work. Purcey shut down the Broncs' offense, giving up no runs on four hits.

Box Score

“(Purcey) pitched a wonderful game,” OU head coach Larry Cochell said. “He was throwing 91 (miles per hour), 92 and 94 when he needed to. His curveball was outstanding.”

Purcey was excellent from the start, striking out six of the first nine UTPA batters.

“To have a 12-strikeout game against a good hitting team was remarkable,” Cochell said. “(Purcey) wasn't as sharp as he could have been in his last start (versus Kansas State), but to have a game like this before Nebraska is a good omen.”

Oklahoma got its first run in the bottom of the first when Russell Raley (1-for-2) scored after Matt Bose's (1-for-2) grounder was mishandled.

The Sooners have scored first in six of their last seven games.

Oklahoma scored two more runs in the second inning before rolling through the order in the bottom of the fourth en route to a six-run inning.

The scoring started when junior designated hitter and last week's Big 12 Player of the Week Eric Thornton (1-for-4) singled to left scoring Raley. Bose singled to shortstop, scoring Sheldon and advanced on a throwing error that also plated Thornton. Bose scored on a single by freshman catcher Josh Stinson (2-for-3) and sophomore shortstop Ryan Rohlinger (0-for-3) reached home plate on the next at-bat when junior center fielder Jeff Scuderi (2-for-3) singled to center field. The final run of the inning came after sophomore left fielder Scott Rooker (3-for-5) singled to left, scoring Stinson.

The Sooners were positioned for the shutout, but the Sooner bullpengave up two runs on five hits in the final two frames.

The win was witnessed by a crowd of 2,374 and several distinguished members of the armed forces who were celebrated at L. Dale Mitchell Park for the Second Annual Military Appreciation Day. Selected members of the military participated in skills competitions before and during the game.

The Sooners host the Texas-Pan American again on Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior right-hander Mark Roberts (7-4) will be on the mound. Roberts, along with Casey Brown, Charlie House, Andrew McGuire and Mike Swindell wil suit up for their final game at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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