Cancelled Event: Baseball versus Texas Tech
Cancelled
Baseball
vs Texas Tech
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sunday, May 13
Norman, Okla.
1:00 PM
University of Oklahoma
12
vs
6
Baylor
Sooners Make Statement, Sweep No. 2 Bears
May 13, 2012 | Baseball
May 13, 2012
  6 |
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 12 |
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NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma (33-19, 13-10) was looking to make a statement this weekend against No. 2 Baylor (39-11, 18-3) and recorded an impressive three-game sweep after Sunday's 12-6 win at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners won both games of a doubleheader (1-0 and 2-1) on Saturday to lock up the series win.
The three-game sweep, just the third in the series between the two teams since 1997 (all by OU), was a result of season highs in runs and hits (15) on Sunday for the Sooners. It also marked OU's first series sweep over a ranked opponent since 2009 when it topped No. 16 Texas A&M at home at the end of the season and No. 9 Baylor in Waco earlier in the year.
“What we've done this weekend is going to speak volumes for us,” said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway. “Last year, we were ranked as high as No. 2 nationally, but we didn't finish strong. We want to finish strong. We want to be playing well. If we do happen to make the NCAA Tournament, we want to be playing good baseball.”
On Sunday, Jack Mayfield paced the offense with a career-high three hits and four RBI, while Evan Mistich (2-for-5, 3 RBI), Garrett Carey (3-for-5, 2 RBI) and Cody Reine (2-for-4, 2 RBI) also drove in multiple runs.
While pitching was the story during Saturday's doubleheader, the two teams combined for 28 hits and 18 runs in the finale. Damien Magnifico improved to 2-1 in relief after giving up 10 hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He had three strikeouts and zero walks in his first appearance since May 1.
Baylor starter Tyler Bremer (5-1) suffered his first loss with five runs allowed off seven hits. Bremer was followed by four Bear relievers as the staff gave up season highs in hits and surrendered double-digit runs for the first time in 2012.
Mayfield lit up the scoreboard first with a RBI single in the first inning that plated Erik Ross.
The Bears immediately countered with Josh Ludy's eighth homer of the season, which led off the second inning and began a three-run frame for the Bears.
OU starter Dillon Overton finished the second inning but was relieved Magnificio in the third. Overton gave up three runs, two earned.
The Bears' lead was short-lived as OU plated two runs in the home half of the second, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Erik Ross and a ball lost in the sun by shortstop Jake Miller, which resulted in an infield double for Reine.
Baylor regained the lead in the third inning off an RBI single by Logan Vick to right field off Magnifico but that was the last lead for the visitors.
The fifth inning saw OU connect on four straight base hits, including a solo homer by Reine to lead off the frame. The shot to right field was the third of the season for Reine (17th of career) and was followed by RBI singles by Mayfield and Carey.
The Sooners broke the game open in the eighth inning with a two-run double by Mayfield and a two-run single by Mistich. Jake Fisher recorded the save as he entered the game in the eighth with the bases loaded and OU holding an 8-4 lead. Fisher was perfect in the final 1 2/3 innings.
“We're feeling pretty confident,” said Mayfield. “Dillon struggled a little bit, but Mag came out and helped him out. The big thing with our team is we feel like we have each others' backs. We just played behind him and made plays. We put up 12 runs on the No. 2 team. Everyone was just squaring the ball up and doing what we needed to do.”
OU continues the seven-game homestand that closes out the season with a midweek showdown with No. 24 TCU on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Following the midweek game, OU closes the regular season with a three-game series with Samford on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
BB Highlights: OU 4, Florida 3
Friday, May 01
BB Highlights: OU 2, Auburn 1
Saturday, April 25
BB Highlights: OU 7, Oral Roberts 6
Tuesday, April 21
BB Highlights: OU 8, Missouri 4
Sunday, April 19
