Baseball Tops UTPA, 6-5, in Finale

EDINBURG, Texas -- Oklahoma's offense connected for nine base hits in a 6-5 victory over Texas-Pan American in the UTPA Classic on Sunday. The win was the first of the season for the Sooners, snapping a two-game losing streak, and it avenged the 2-0 loss on Saturday to the Broncs.

Junior Joe Dunigan provided the game-winning RBI in the top half of the ninth inning on an infield single and freshman Garrett Richards recorded the save with his effort in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Nich Conaway, who pitched two innings of relief, earned the win, the first of his career.

“I am excited for our club to get this first win because we realize as a staff it will help the team in the preparation and concentration leading up to next weekend,” said head coach Sunny Golloway. “We look forward to the next three days of practice to work on the things we need to improve upon.”

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The OU pitching staff once again performed well with the start of Joseph Hughes on the mound. Hughes struck out five and lasted six innings in front of a defense that committed a season-high five errors. Hughes allowed four unearned runs on three hits and one walk before turning it over to the bullpen.

The Broncs managed five runs off five hits, but all but one of their runs were unearned thanks to the OU miscues.

The Sooners' pen has been solid after three games, allowing four earned runs and nine hits between seven hurlers. In 11 2/3 innings, the OU relievers have recorded seven strikeouts opposite six walks.

Offensively, Dunigan joined junior Jackson Williams and senior Joseph Newman as the game's leaders in hits with two apiece. Williams drove in two runs on a pair of doubles and freshman Aaron Baker jump started the OU offense with a three-run homer, the first of his career and first for a Sooner this year, in the top of the third inning.

Baker's home run gave OU a 4-0 lead after its at-bat in the third and UTPA chipped away at the Sooner lead with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Broncs tied the game for the first time at four runs apiece.

After Williams' RBI double in the eighth inning gave the Sooners the lead, 5-4, the Broncs tied things up again in their next at-bat with the game's only earned run.

The Sooners (1-2) will return to action next weekend in the Hughes Bros. Challenge in Wilmington, N.C., hosted by UNC-Wilmington. OU will begin action in the tournament against No. 4 South Carolina on Friday. The Sooners will also face the host Seahawks and Western Kentucky on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

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