Haley, Sooners Walk Off The Beach

Long Beach State

Oklahoma

Highlights

Box Score

Notes

Line Score
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LBSU	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	3	7	0
OU	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	4	6	9	1

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Olson (1-0)	3.0	1	0	0	0	1
L - Rivera (0-1)	0.1	3	4	4	0	0
S - N/A	-	-	-	-	-	-

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Walker	4	1	2	2	0	0
LBSU - Nelson	4	1	2	2	0	1
OU - Haley	4	1	1	3	0	1

NORMAN, Okla. – Senior left fielder Hunter Haley (Nacogdoches, Texas) blasted a three-run, walk-off home run to right-center to provide the dramatic finish to a ninth-inning comeback as the University of Oklahoma baseball team defeated Long Beach State, 6-3, at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Sunday afternoon. The Sooners, who trailed 3-2 entering the ninth, improved to 6-9-1, while the Dirtbags dropped to 10-5.

“That was huge. Big for me and big for the program,” Haley stated simply. “Right before the game, we were talking about how we needed a walk-off win to get us going. Hopefully this will get us going in the right direction.”

Senior right fielder Alex Wise (Neosho, Mo.) started Oklahoma's rally in the bottom of the ninth with a one-out single through the right side. Freshman center fielder Steele Walker (Prosper, Texas) followed with a base hit up the middle to put runners at the corners. Junior Ben Hollas (Longview, Texas) was then called upon for a pinch-hit appearance. Hollas put down a bunt to the first base side of the mound and darting home from third on the suicide-squeeze was Wise, who slid to the back of the plate around the tag with the tying run.

Haley then stepped to the plate and with a 2-2 count launched a shot to right-center for his first home run of the season and provide Oklahoma its first walk-off win of the year.

“We've lost too many tight games,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “You get to a point where you've got to figure it out and start winning the close ones. Credit to our team for keep plugging away. Credit to Hunter Haley. That kid has been struggling. He's been grinding to be a productive part of our team.”

Junior right-hander JB Olson (Shady Shores, Texas) came on in relief in the seventh inning and pitched the rest of the way for the Sooners. Olson (1-0) allowed just one hit and struck out one in a three-inning effort for his first win at OU. Junior righty Jake Elliott (Coppell, Texas) was excellent in the first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh. He gave up three runs, including a two-run homer to Long Beach first baseman Garrett Nelson in the seventh, on six hits and three walks. Elliott, who left the game trailing 3-2, also struck out a pair.

The Dirtbags grabbed the first run of the game in the top of the fourth as second baseman Jarren Duran reached on a leadoff-single and later scored from third as Elliott rolled a 4-6-3 double play.

The Sooners responded with two runs in the home half of the fourth. Freshman Chris Andritsos (The Woodlands, Texas), who came off the bench to play first base, drew a one-out walk and junior Jack Flansburg (Orange, Calif.) singled. After Wise sacrificed both into scoring position, Walker lifted a double to left that scored both and put OU in front, 2-1.

Right-hander Tanner Brown lasted five innings in the start for Long Beach State. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out five. Righty Chris Rivera (0-1) took the loss in his first blown save of the season.

The Sooners outhit the Dirtbags, 9-7. Flansburg and Walker each recorded a 2-for-4 day.

Oklahoma is on the road for each of its next 10 games beginning Tuesday night at Fresno State. From there, the Sooners head to CSU Bakersfield for a four-game set.