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Baseball
vs Texas A&M
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Wednesday, May 26
Oklahoma City
7:30 PM
University of Oklahoma
3
vs
2
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Kansas
OU Wins Big 12 Opener with Another Rally
May 27, 2010 | Baseball
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OKLAHOMA CITY -- For the 23rd time this season, the No. 12 Sooners came from behind to post a 3-2 victory on Wednesday in the opener of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship against Kansas. OU (43-14) has won eight straight games.
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks (31-24-1), they have been on the losing end of that note in the last four games. OU swept a weekend series in Lawrence in the regular season and rallied in each game, including ninth-inning wins on Saturday and Sunday.
Wednesday's game produced similar results as Cody Reine doubled off a 2-0 pitch with out to drive in the game-tying and go-ahead runs off T.J. Walz. Reine had two of the Sooners' four hits on the afternoon, but none were bigger than the ninth-inning extra-base hit that scored pinch runner Erik Ross and Tyler Ogle. Ross pinch-ran for Garrett Buechele, who singled to lead off the frame, and moved to second on a Cameron Seitzer sacrifice bunt and then stole third base.
The start of the game was pushed back over three hours due to thunderstorms in Oklahoma City that delayed the game between Baylor and Kansas State, but the paid attendance of 5,102 got their money's worth in the night's final game.
"What a great game. It's almost a shame that it was played so late that the fans didn't get to enjoy what everyone got to see," said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway who owns 213 wins at Oklahoma, with 109 in come-from-behind fashion.
"The ball didn't carry all night. When the ball went off Cody Reine's bat and burned into center field, I was surprised," said Golloway. "I don't know how that ball carried in this heavy air. I made a comment afterwards already, if that is not Sooner magic, then I don't know what is. "The first thing we have to do is tip our cap to Kansas and (T.J.) Walz. He pitched terrific."
Walz (8-5) was the hard luck loser on Wednesday with a season-high 8 1/3 innings and five strikeouts. He did not allow a hit until Reine led off the fifth inning with a single.
Reine's hit in the fifth, along with Buechele in the ninth, were the only leadoff hitters to reach base and both came around to hurt Kansas. In the ninth, all Reine had to do was lift the ball into the outfield to tie the game at two.
"I was just trying to make sure I get the job done," said Reine. "We are playing for one for the tie. I was looking to hit something in the air and stay with the count."
The Sooners' fourth straight opening win in the Big 12 Championship wouldn't have been possible without OU starter Michael Rocha's season-high eight innings. Rocha allowed two runs, one earned, off five hits and two walks. He struck out six.
"How about our man Rocha? Stepping out there and doing what he is doing for us late in the year," added Golloway "I told him I was really proud."
Kansas struck first with an unearned run in the second inning. The Sooners countered with a RBI single by Ricky Eisenberg in the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, the Jayhawks regained the advantage on Tony Thompson's sacrifice fly to right and the lead lasted until the ninth.
Jeremy Erben improved to 7-1 after recording the final two outs in the final frame. Anthony Collazo recorded the previous out in a left on left matchup.
Oklahoma returns to action in the Big 12 Championship on Friday, May 28 against No. 6 seed Baylor. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m. at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Baylor (32-21) topped Kansas State in the game held prior to the Sooners.
The Sooners will look to win their second straight game to open the tournament for the third time in the last four years (2007 and 2008).
"The way we are playing right now, we are finding ways to win," said Golloway. "That is the most important thing this time of year."
Johnson and Carmichael Postgame vs North Carolina
Monday, June 02
BB Highlights: OU 9, UNC 5
Monday, June 02
Johnson, Dickerson, Willits Postgame vs North Carolina
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BB Highlights: OU 17, Nebraska 1
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