White Leads OU to Eighth Straight Win

No. 15 Oklahoma 9, Houston Baptist 1
Highlights

Max White had three extra-base hits on Wednesday

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
HBU	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0
OU	1	2	1	0	4	0	0	1	X	9	11	4

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Rocha (2-0)	5.0	1	1	1	0	2
L - Nikonchik (1-2)	4.0	3	5	5	4	6
SV - none	-	-	-	-	-	-

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - White	4	2	3	2	0	1
HBU - Warren	4	1	2	1	0	1

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March 10, 2010

NORMAN, Okla. -- Max White collected three extra base hits, including a two-run homer in the second inning, and the No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners rolled to a 9-1 victory over visiting Houston Baptist on Wednesday afternoon.

The win was the Sooners' eighth straight as they improved to 13-1 with one weekend of non-conference action left before Big 12 play begins. Houston Baptist, which is 0-3 all-time against OU, dropped to 4-6.

Michael Rocha (2-0) gave OU its second straight solid start on the mound as the right hander held the Huskies to one hit across five innings. Rocha did not walk a batter and struck out two hitters.

"Michael did a good job for us and set the tone on the mound," said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway. "His start, and our offense getting on top early for the second straight day, was huge."

White (3-for-4, two runs, two RBIs) led that offensive charge and was one of two Sooners to collect a multiple-hit performance on Wednesday. Ross Hubbard had two hits as the Sooners led the Huskies 11-5 in that category.

"Max White is a talented hitter and fielder and we have been looking for ways to get him into the lineup," added Golloway. "It's a nice problem to have. We have a lot of depth and Max proved today that he can contribute."

Hubbard put OU on top in the first inning with a RBI double but the Huskies quickly answered in the top of the second on Beau Warren's solo homer.

White's two-run homer that easily cleared the fence in center field paced OU to a 3-1 lead in the second inning, and the Sooners built a three-run cushion off Cameron Seitzer's RBI single through the right side of the infield.

OU made quick work of HBU starter Stephen Nikonchik (1-2) who allowed five runs in the four-inning start.

The Sooners sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth to plate four runs and extend the lead to 8-1. Garrett Buechele, who has at 12 RBIs in the last eight games, drove in one of those runs and was joined by Seitzer, Cale Ellis and Tyler Ogle with run-producing at-bats.

Jack Mayfield capped off the scoring with a RBI double in the ninth. With the OU offense producing its 10th game with double-digit hits, the OU bullpen turned in another strong outing.

The Sooners relievers have allowed just one earned run in the last six games. On Wednesday, Drew Verhagen relieved Rocha in the sixth and held the Huskies scoreless in his three innings of work that included three strikeouts. Jarrett Semler finished off Houston Baptist in the ninth with one hit allowed and one strikeout.

OU hits the road this weekend for the Whataburger College Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas, where it will face Mississippi State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 10 UCLA. All three games will be broadcast live on the Sooners' flagship station, KREF 1400 AM.

"This weekend is a huge opportunity for us to play some quality opponents before Big 12 play opens next weekend," said Golloway.