Bullpen Puts OU Back on Winning Track

No. 13 OU 4, UMass 2 | Box Score (PDF)

Jason Chowning was perfect in 2.2 innings Tuesday

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

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Chowning (1-0)	2.2	0	0	0	0	4
L - Gedman (0-1)	8.0	9	4	4	0	6
SV - Duke (7)	1.0	1	0	0	2	1

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

Sooner Baseball Central

Main Page | Ticket Information | Webcasts

2010 OU Baseball Media Guide | 2010 Game Notes

Oklahoma Season Statistics | Big 12 Conference | NCAA

March 16, 2010

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 13 Sooners (16-2) bounced back following the second loss of the season with a 4-2 win over Massachusetts (0-5) on Tuesday.

OU has won 11 of its last 12 games and Tuesday's win improved the overall record to 16-2, while UMass dropped to 0-5 in the first meeting between the two programs.

Jason Chowning (1-0) earned the win and was the first Sooner reliever out of the bullpen and he tossed fifth scoreless outing of the season with a 2 2/3 innings of perfect baseball. Chowning struck out four batters and entered the game in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded to record his first win of the season and second of his career.

Three other Sooner relievers combined to keep the Minutemen off the scoreboard after J.R. Robinson allowed two runs in his start that lasted 4 1/3 innings. The Sooner staff combined to strike out 12 batters, the 11th time this season it has recorded 10 or more strikeouts.

Ryan Duke recorded his seventh save in as many chances but it wasnt easy. The Minutemen loaded the bases after a leadoff double but Duke still nailed down the win for the Sooners. Duke has 23 career saves.

"We have a lot of guys competing for innings," said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway on the bullpen's development. "I can't say enough about how Chowning came in relief and Collazo with the double play ball. Jason was terrific tonight."

Freshman Max White led the Sooner offense with a season-high three hits that was highlighted by an important insurance run in the eighth inning of a RBI single to left field. Each of the Sooners' four runs were driven in with two outs.

In the second, Caleb Bushyhead became the 13th different Sooner to homer this season with his solo shot to right field with two outs on the board. OU has homered in 10 straight games now and leads the Big 12 with 24 after just 18 games.

The Sooners extended the lead to two runs in the following frame on sacrifice squeeze by Jack Mayfield to score Elliott Blair.

In the top of the fourth, the Minutemen broke through as starting pitcher Mike Gedman (0-1), who has batting in the four hole, singled to left and cut the Sooner lead in half. Gedman took the loss despite tossing all eight innings for UMass and striking out six batters.

"They were a solid club," said Golloway. "With Gedman on the mound, he pitched terrific, and you have to go and find a way to win when someone has that type of performance against you. I am proud of our guys."

Cameron Seitzer drilled a single to right field in the fourth inning to gain back the two-run lead. The base knock extended his hitting streak to seven games, a career high, and he has driven in 12 runs in that span.

Chowning came in out of relief in the top of the fifth to record two outs after Robinson left the game with the bases loaded. Robinson allowed two runs off five hits, including a homer that led off the fifth inning, but struck out six.

Tuesday's game was the start of a five-game home stand for the Sooners. In addition, OU will play 12 of the next 16 games at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

OU and UMass concluded the two-game series on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Norman. The game will be simulcast on the Sooner Sports Network with a broadcast on KREF 1400 AM and a telecast on Cox Channel 7 in Oklahoma City and Cox Channel 3 in Tulsa.

The first 500 fans on Wednesday will receive green OU baseball hats in celebration of Saint Patrick's Day.