OU Drops Game Two to Texas

AUSTIN, Texas -- The second game of the Red River Rivalry on Saturday focused on pitching as No. 7 Texas' Adrian Alaniz tossed a complete game opposite No. 17 OU's Heath Taylor in a 3-1 victory for the Longhorns.

Taylor (5-1) struck out six batters over seven innings but Alaniz (8-1) went the distance for the second time this season after surrendering one run on three hits. Taylor scattered three runs on seven hits and four walks (one hit-by-pitch).

The game was scoreless until the seventh inning when the Longhorns scored three runs off three-two out hits.

The loss takes OU's overall mark to 20-9 and 2-3 in Big 12 action while Texas improved to 25-8 and 7-1.

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“It's obviously disappointing to be down 0-2 in this series, but every game in the Big 12 is important,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “We have to come out tomorrow and try to beat a Texas team that is very good at home and salvage this series with a win.

“The Big 12 Conference is one of the toughest in the country and every win is important. Three years ago, we finished a half game behind Texas in the standings, so you never know when a game like tomorrow could come into play later down the line.”

Texas improved to 16-3 this season at home on Saturday thanks to solid pitching and timely hitting. After Heath Taylor quickly recorded two outs to begin the seventh inning, the Longhorns broke through with back-to-back two-out singles by Jordan Danks and Bradley Suttle. Suttle's single to left field plated Danks and was followed by Kyle Russell's intentional walk. With runners on first and second, Preston Clark delivered the eventual game-winning hit, a two-run double down the left-field line.

OU responded with its at-bat in the eighth. Mike Gosse led off the frame with a triple to right field, which was lost in the sun by Russell, the Longhorns' right fielder, and was brought home on Jarod Freeman's ground out to short. The Sooners could not manage another hit as Alaniz retired the side in order in the ninth.

The Longhorns outhit the Sooners 7-3 and five of the base knocks came with two outs on the board. In comparison, Oklahoma, which received hits from Freeman, Gosse and Joseph Hughes, was 0-for-6 with two outs on Saturday and was limited to placing two runners in scoring position.

Saturday's game was a key example of the Sooners' luck in games played in Austin since 1997. OU has lost 15 consecutive games at Disch-Falk Field, with the last victory coming on March 29, 1998.

The Sooners will look to avoid the sweep, and their first winless weekend of the season, on Sunday. The three-game set concludes on April 1 at 1 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

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