OU's Rally Falls Short at Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Despite five RBIs off the bat of Joe Dunigan, including a three-run home run, Oklahoma could not rally past No. 21 Missouri on Sunday in a 10-8 loss. The Sooners scored three runs in the top of the ninth, but the Tigers' four runs in the seventh inning proved to be the difference.

The Tigers claimed the victory in the three-game series with Sunday's win and after winning Friday's opener, 13-3. With Sunday's loss, OU dropped to 29-22 overall and 9-15 in Big 12 play. Missouri, which was led by Aaron Senne's six RBIs, improved to 35-14 and 16-8.

“Obviously this is a disappointing loss, but I was really proud of our position player's today,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “Heading into today's game we felt we could score some runs and we did. We really fought hard to get back in this thing, but the bottom line is we have to pitch better. And I know we can.”

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For the second consecutive day, the Sooners plated the game's first run on a pair of doubles in the second inning. Cory Williamson led off the frame with a double down the right-field line and later scored on Aaron Baker's team-leading 15th double, which was belted to the wall in center field.

Ryan Mottern (3-3), who made his seventh start of the year and first since March 20 against Dallas Baptist, gave Missouri the lead off a two-run homer by Aaron Senne in the bottom of the second frame. Mottern had not pitched in over a month due to a strained muscle in his throwing shoulder and made his last appearance out of the bullpen on April 3 against TCU.

Senne struck again in the fourth with a bases-clearing double off Nich Conaway. The Sooner reliever came out of the bullpen after Mottern lasted three innings, with four strikeouts, and allowed three runs off three hits and one walk.

Trailing 5-1 in the fifth, OU cut the deficit to one run as Dunigan launched a 425-foot home run to right field. The three-run shot was Dunigan's team-leading ninth homer of the season and first since April 22 at Kansas State.

The Tigers countered an inning later and built a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth on Brock Bond's run-scoring single.

Dunigan brought OU back as the Sooners cut the lead to 6-5 in the seventh. Dunigan's RBI-single through the right side of the infield plated Joseph Hughes.

The one-run ball game was blown open in the seventh by Missouri with four runs on five hits (two singles, two doubles and a triple) off Conaway and Garrett Richards. The Sooners' bullpen limited Missouri to zero hits in 3 1/3 innings on Saturday in the 5-0 victory, but were not as lucky on Sunday. Conaway surrendered four runs on five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings of relief and Richards did not register an out and was charged with three runs off three hits.

In the Sooners' ninth, Hughes led off the inning with a single and moved to third after on back-to-back walks issued to Joseph Newman and Aaron Ivey. With the bases loaded, Missouri reliever Scooter Hicks, who notched his third save, forced Dunigan to fly out to center field. The sacrifice fly cut the lead to 10-6 and after the next batter, Aaron Reza, was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded again. Pinch hitter Brandon Moss was also hit by a pitch to narrow the gap to three runs and the Sooners' final run was brought home on Jackson Williams' sacrifice fly to left field.

Missouri starter Ian Berger moved to 4-1 after five innings of holding Oklahoma to four runs on seven hits. Berger gave up seven of OU's 10 hits but received plenty of run support on the Tigers' 12 hits.

The Sooners will return to action on Monday, May 14 at home to host Stephen F. Austin at 6:30 p.m. The game will commemorate “Fan Appreciation Night” and Senior Night for Oklahoma. OU's eight seniors will be honored before the game and fans will receive free admission.

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