Neuse Powers Sooners Past Shockers

Wichita State

Oklahoma

Highlights

Box Score

Notes

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

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Au. Hansen (2-0)	2.2	0	0	0	4	4
L - Tyler (0-1)	4.0	1	2	2	2	3
S - Olson (1)	4.0	3	0	0	0	5

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Neuse	3	2	2	2	1	1
WSU - Mucha	5	1	3	0	0	0
OU - Walker	4	1	1	1	0	0

Player of the Game
SS-Sheldon Neuse Neuse's first-inning home run went for the 100th RBI of his career. He later tripled in a 2-for-2, two-RBI effort.

NORMAN, Okla. – Junior shortstop Sheldon Neuse (Fort Worth, Texas) homered and tripled in a run in his first two at-bats on the way to a 4-2 win for the University of Oklahoma baseball team over Wichita State at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Tuesday night. The win improved the Sooners to 5-7-1 on the year, while the Shockers dropped to 4-8.

“I wanted to get off to a clean start defensively and I wanted to win the first inning and we did that,” stated head coach Pete Hughes. “I did not want to shut it down after the third but our goal was to win the first and we won the first inning.”

All six runs in the game were scored in the first three inning beginning with two for Oklahoma in the first. Neuse homered to left-center with two down for his third of the season; each coming in the last five games over an eight-day stretch. Freshman center fielder Steele Walker (Prosper, Texas) then ripped a double that stopped at the wall in front of the 410' mark right of center. He came in to score on a single back up the box by senior right fielder Alex Wise (Neosho, Mo.).

Wichita State got a run back in the top of the second without the benefit of a hit. After OU freshman right-hander Kyle Tyler (Oklahoma City) struck out two, the Shockers loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and two base-on-balls. Tyler issued a third walk to bring in a run before striking out his third to leave the runners stranded.

A leadoff-single from second baseman Tanner Kirk in the top of the third led to the game-tying run as left fielder Luke Ritter hit a double down the right field line to tie the game. Tyler was lifted with one down and freshman right-hander Austin Hansen (Lenexa, Kan.) came out of the Sooner bullpen and left runners at the corners.

Oklahoma answered quickly in the home half of the third. Junior second baseman Jack Flansburg (Orange, Calif.) drew a leadoff-walk and scored on a Neuse triple to right-center as the Sooners regained the lead. OU added the final run of the game as a groundout to the right side from Walker scored Neuse from third.

Hansen (2-0) got the win in 2.2 innings of hitless-relief. He walked four and struck out four. Sooner pitchers combined to strikeout season-high 13 batters. Tyler, who went 2.1 innings in his first career start, struck out four and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks. Junior right-hander JB Olson (Shady Shores, Texas) earned his first save of the season in four innings of work. He scattered three hits and struck out five.

“Our guys did a great job out of the pen they pitched tough in tough situations,” said Hughes. “I thought Olson was awesome he is the ultimate team guy he's unselfish he's always waiting for his opportunity, he prepares like crazy like he's going to pitch everyday so it didn't surprise me to see the results that we got out of him today. He is ready to go.”

Right-hander Clayton McGinness pitched two innings in the start for the Shockers. He struck out three and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks. Lefty Cody Tyler (0-1) took the loss despite allowing just one hit in four innings of relief. He surrendered two runs and struck out three, while also walking a pair.

Oklahoma remains at home this week for a three-game series with Long Beach State. Game one is set for 6:00 pm on Friday night.