Sooners Edged by a Run at No. 22 USC

Friday, March 4

Los Angeles, Calif.

8:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

Southern California

March 04, 2016 | Baseball

By: Athletics Communications

Oklahoma

²² USC

Box Score

Photo Gallery

Notes

Line Score
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
OU	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	4	9	1
²²USC	3	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	X	5	9	2

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Davis (2-1)	6.0	7	3	3	1	6
L - Hernandez (0-1)	1.1	3	2	2	0	1
S - Wegman (1)	0.2	0	0	0	0	0

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
USC - Ramirez	4	1	3	2	0	0
OU - Walbergh	4	1	2	1	0	0
USC - Nootbaar	3	1	1	1	1	0

LOS ANGELES – The University of Oklahoma baseball team fell at No. 22 Southern California, 5-4, in the opening game of the Dodger Stadium Classic in front of 1,232 at Dedeaux Field on Friday night. The Sooners dropped to 4-6 with the loss, while the Trojans improved to 6-3.

Oklahoma played from behind after USC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Trojans got to junior right-hander Jake Elliott (Coppell, Texas) with three singles and a hit-by-pitch in the inning. First baseman AJ Ramirez had the big knock; a two-run single.

The Sooners would chip into the lead with a run in the third. Sophomore third baseman Quin Walbergh (Edmond, Okla.) laced a leadoff-double into the left fielder corner and scored on a RBI-single from senior right fielder Alex Wise (Neosho, Mo.).

Thanks to Wise, OU managed to keep the deficit at two runs after the fourth. The Trojans had a runner in scoring position for right fielder Turner Clouse, who singled to Wise in right. Coming up throwing, Wise threw directly for home to nail the runner, Adalberto Carillo, and help the Sooners put up a zero on the scoreboard.

Oklahoma would rally to tie the game in the top of the fifth. Junior catcher Renae Martinez (San Pedro, Calif.) doubled and with two outs scored on a single by senior left fielder Hunter Haley (Nacogdoches, Texas). Haley would come in to score the tying run on a double down the right field line by junior shortstop Sheldon Neuse (Fort Worth, Texas).

In the sixth, the Sooners started a two-out rally with singles from junior designated hitter Cody Thomas (Colleyville, Texas) and Walbergh. A walk to Martinez loaded the bases, but OU left them stranded.

USC answered by bringing in two runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Trojans loaded the bases with no outs against senior right-hander Keaton Hernandez (Palm Springs, Calif.). A sacrifice-fly put USC back on top and Hernandez was one out away from limiting the damage to one run until center fielder Lars Nootbaar singled in what would stand to be the game-winning run.

Refusing to go quietly, Oklahoma once again chipped away in the top of the eighth. Sophomore second Kyle Mendenhall (Carlsbad, Calif.) and freshman center fielder Steele Walker (Prosper, Texas) picked up back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice-bunt by Thomas, Mendenhall scored on a RBI-groundout to the right-side from Walbergh. In the ninth, the Sooners battled back to load the bases with one out before Mendenhall grounded sharply into a game-ending double play.

Right-hander Kyle Davis (2-1) came away with the win for the Trojans. He pitched six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Elliott lasted 4.2 innings for Oklahoma. In his third no-decision, he surrendered three runs, two earned, on four hits and three walks, while striking out three.

Hernandez (0-1) took the loss for the Sooners. He pitched 1.1 innings of relief with two runs against on three hits and a strikeout. Right-hander Brad Wegman got the final two outs of the game for USC to record his first save of the year.

Oklahoma is back in action on Saturday afternoon at UCLA. Junior right-hander Alec Hansen (Loveland, Colo.) will take the mound,