Jayhawks Upend Sooners in Game Two

NORMAN, Okla. -- The OU baseball team (28-16 overall, 8-9 Big 12) failed to take a 2-0 lead in the three-game series with Kansas (21-26, 7-13) on Saturday, dropping a 6-3 decision in game two at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Jayhawks used three runs in the third and three more in the eighth to even the series at one apiece.

“They (Jayhawks) have momentum going into Sunday, so they have a chance to win a series on the road,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “I think after the 8-0 victory yesterday, we came out thinking that (today) might be a repeat performance and that is not going to happen in this conference.”

Kansas jumped on top early, making Heath Taylor pay for back-to-back walks to begin the second frame. Brock Simpson capitalized with runners on first and second with a triple to the gap in right-center field. A fielder's choice by Joe Servais capped the Jayhawks' three-run inning.

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The Sooners countered in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs. The first run scored on an error by Simpson in right field and another crossed the plate on Aljay Davis' sacrifice bunt.

After four consecutive scoreless innings, Kansas stretched its lead to four runs with three scores in the top of the eighth. John Allman led off the frame with a double to right center and later crossed on Ben Afenir's two-run double to the gap in left.

Taylor struck out nine batters in six innings of work but gave up three runs on three hits and four costly walks. Taylor was relieved by Brad Burns, who surrendered three runs and four hits in one inning, and Jimmy Rollins (1/3 innings) and Andrew Doyle (1 2/3 innings). Doyle's spotless outing marked the fourth straight relief appearance without allowing a run. In addition, Doyle has not allowed a run in five Big 12 appearances spanning 7 2/3 innings.

In the Sooners eighth, Joe Dunigan narrowed the gap to three runs with a RBI single. OU put itself in position to cut Kansas' lead even more with runners on first and second and one out.

Zach Hedges delivered a hard-hit ball through the right-side of the infield, which could have scored Jackson Williams from second base, but instead hit Dunigan's right elbow, who was trying to advance from first. The runner's interference call put two outs on the board and Cory Williamson ended the inning with a fly out to right field.

Earlier in the game, Kansas again avoided an OU rally. In the seventh inning, the Sooners placed runners on first and second with one out, but Aaron Reza's sharply hit liner to Erik Morrison turned into a double play at second base.

Despite outhitting the Jayhawks 10-7, the Sooners dropped just their third game this season when leading that category. OU also stranded 10 base runners on Saturday and were led offensively for the second consecutive night by Aaron Ivey, who finished the day 3-for-4. The Sooners' right fielder has hit safely in nine of the last 10 games with four multiple-hit performances in that span.

Kansas' Don Czyz improved to 3-6 with six solid innings (six hits, two runs and two walks) and Paul Smyth recorded his sixth save by recording the final eight outs of the game.

Oklahoma and Kansas will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. OU's Nich Conaway (3-1, 3.92 ERA) will throw opposite Kansas' Wally Marciel (4-2, 4.09 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on OU's flagship station, KOKC 1520 AM, and will also be available on the Sooners Sports Network across the state.

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