Spartans Upend No. 21 Sooners, 4-3

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 21 Oklahoma baseball team lost its first home game of the season in a 4-3 contest against Michigan State on Friday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners' attempt at a two-out rally was foiled when Aaron Ivey was picked off at first base in the bottom of the ninth.

The loss takes OU's overall record to 15-6 (11-1 at home) this season and MSU improves to 6-6 with the win. The loss is the second in the last four games for the Sooners who's 11-game winning streak ended last Sunday against Michigan.

“This was a disappointing loss for us tonight,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “We did not execute on both sides of the ball and those are things we have to improve on before Big 12 play begins next weekend.”

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Nich Conaway suffered his first loss of the season to drop to 2-1. Despite a solid relief effort which included five strikeouts, Conaway surrendered the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning after 2 2/3 innings pitched.

The Spartans' Chris Roberts plated the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, bringing home Steve Gerstenberger, who walked earlier in the inning.

Mike Monterey (1-0) earned the victory for the Spartans after allowing zero runs and three hits over the final three frames.

The Spartans scored the game's first run in the top of the first inning on Justin Potes' RBI single. MSU extended the lead to two runs with a RBI double off the bat of Kyle Day before the Sooners could score their first run in the fifth inning.

In the OU fifth, Joe Dunigan ripped a single to right-center field to bring home Vinny Biancamano. Dunigan led all Sooners on Friday at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance and two RBIs. In his last two games, Dunigan has connected for six hits in eight at-bats to go along with six RBIs.

In their next at-bat, the Spartans regained the two-run lead with a score in the top of the sixth inning. The Sooners' offense finally awoke in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at three runs apiece off two runs and three hits.

Pinch-hitter Mike Gosse started the seventh-inning rally with a double to left-center field and was moved to third base by Aljay Davis' single to right field. Once again, Dunigan came up to the plate to deliver a clutch hit, a RBI double down the right-field line. After Aaron Baker was intentionally walked to load the bases for the second time in the game, Devin Shepherd drew a one-out walk to score Davis from third base. But the scoring stopped there as OU stranded two base runners in the frame.

Both MSU and OU left 11 runners on base on the evening. The Spartans are just the third team to record 10 or more hits on the Sooners in the last 15 games. MSU outhit OU 12-10 and was led by five Spartans with multiple hits.

Stephen Porlier lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks. Heading into Friday's game, Porlier was 4-0 in his last four starts but left Friday's game for his first no-decision of the season. The right-hander struck out four Spartans before handing the ball over to Conaway.

Craig Brookes was solid on the mound for Michigan State. The Spartans' starter tossed six innings of five-hit ball to surrender one unearned run with three walks and six strikeouts.

Two Sooner freshmen extended their hitting streaks against Michigan State on Friday. Baker extended his team-leading hitting streak to 21 games with a single in the fourth inning. Baker is now tied for the third longest streak in OU history. Shepherd finished 2-for-3 with an RBI to extend his streak to seven games.

The Sooners and Spartans will resume the three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free green OU hat in celebration of Saint Patrick's Day. The players and coaches will also participate by wearing green hats and green socks. The game will be broadcast live on the Sooners' flagship station, KOKC 1520 AM.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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