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Final
Baseball
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vs (2) Georgia Tech
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Friday, May 21
Lincoln, Neb.
5:35 PM
University of Oklahoma
6
at
4
Nebraska
No. 18 Oklahoma Holds On For 6-4 Win Over Nebraska
May 21, 2004 | Baseball
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Despite a late Nebraska surge in the eighth inning, the 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners held on for a 6-4 win Friday night in a pivotal Big 12 Conference matchup at Haymarket Park.
The win, and Oklahoma State's 9-5 loss at Missouri, clinched a finish in the Big 12 Conference of no worse than second place, which guarantees the Sooners their best finish in their Big 12 history.
The effort was aided by a strong pitching performance by Sooner starter David Purcey (8-4) and a pair of RBI by sophomore second baseman Russell Raley who tied his career high with three hits. The Sooners improved to 35-19 overall and 18-7 in the Big 12, while Nebraska dropped to 34-20 overall and 10-15 in the league.
“We've got to have guys step it up in the lineup and we had some guys do that tonight,” commented OU head coach Larry Cochell. “Ryan Rohlinger looks like he's hitting the ball better and he's starting to look like himself again.”
The Sooners got on the scoreboard early with three early runs in the first two frames. Nebraska starting pitcher Zach Kroenke (7-4) loaded the bases on singles to Raley and junior third baseman Matt Bose (1-for-4) and a walk to junior first baseman Ole Sheldon (1-for-4). He then walked in a run by issuing his second free pass of the frame to freshman leftfielder Ryan Mottern (0-for-4).
Kroenke's third walk of the game came back to hurt him as well. Junior centerfielder Jeff Scuderi (0-for-3) drew a one out walk in the second inning which ignited a two run rally for OU to help extend its lead to 3-0. Rohlinger (2-for-5) followed Scuderi's walk with a base hit to left field to place runners at the corners. The Sooners then successfully executed the squeeze play to bring home Scuderi for the first run of the inning. Raley pushed a bunt down the first baseline allowing Scuderi to race home from third base. In the next at bat, Sheldon ripped a single to center field to bring Rohlinger home from second base for the second run.
Nebraska quickly got the pair of runs back in the bottom of the second inning on a two run homer by rightfielder Chad Steele to cut the Oklahoma lead to 3-2.
After both teams were held scoreless over the next three frames, OU struck for a lone run in the top of the sixth inning to cushion its lead at 4-2. Rohlinger drove in a run with a two out double down the left field line that scored junior designated hitter Eric Thornton (2-for-4) from second base.
After running Kroenke from the game after consecutive base hits by Thornton and freshman catcher Josh Stinson (1-for-2) in the eighth inning, the Sooners took advantage of a throwing error by the new Husker hurler to plate a run and keep the inning alive for one more.
With runners at first and second base, Nebraska pitcher Brett Jensen entered the game and threw errantly to second base on a fielder's choice by Scuderi in attempt to get the lead runner out. The throw allowed freshman pinchrunner Aaron Ivey to round third base and score and kept runners at first and second with one out. Two batters later, Raley singled to score Stinson and give the Sooners a 6-2 lead.
Nebraska answered back with a pair of runs of its own in the bottom of the eighth frame to bring the Cornhuskers to with two runs at 6-4. Third baseman Alex Gordon tripled into the right field corner to score shortstop Joe Simokaitis who had led off the inning with a single. Catcher John Grose then followed two batters later with a single up the middle off Oklahoma reliever Daniel McCutchen (Save 4) to score Gordon for the second run.
Purcey left the game after surrendering the RBI-triple to Gordon. He was responsible for all four runs in the game and wrapped up his third straight win. He gave up seven hits, but did not allow more than two hits in any one inning before the pair in the eighth frame. He walked three and struck out seven.
The series continues tomorrow with a 2:05 p.m. start time at Haymarket Park. The Sooners will send senior righthander Mark Roberts (8-4) to the mound to match up against the Huskers' junior righthanded hurler Phil Shirek (5-1).
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