OU Falls in Series Opener at Baylor

Thursday, May 20

Waco, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

25-26, 9-13

Baylor

31-16, 11-11

Baylor

Photo by: Ty Russell

May 20, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Highlights

WACO, Texas – Peyton Graham and Conor McKenna each homered and Brandon Zaragoza drove in two runs, but the Oklahoma baseball team fell 9-5 in the series opener against Baylor Thursday evening at Baylor Ballpark.

McKenna's 10th home run of the season put the Sooners (25-26, 9-13 Big 12) on the board in the fourth inning and Graham's team-leading 11th homer was a two-run blast in the fifth that tied it 3-3. Zaragoza's two RBIs came on a game-tying single in the eighth inning. The Bears (31-16, 11-11 Big 12) hit a three-run home run in the first inning and a two-run homer in the seventh before scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The start time for Friday's game between OU and Baylor has been moved up to 3 p.m.

Home runs produced the first eight runs of the game. McKenna homered off the left field scoreboard in the fourth inning and Graham tied the game in the fifth inning with his two-run shot to nearly the same spot. Baylor catcher Andy Thomas hit a three-run homer in the first inning and center fielder Jared McKenzie's two-run home run in the seventh gave the Bears a 5-3 lead.

The Sooners tied it up in the eighth inning on a two-out, two-run single by shortstop Brandon Zaragoza. OU loaded the bases with back-to-back singles from designated hitter Jimmy Crooks and first baseman Tyler Hardman, followed by a fielder's choice by right fielder Jace Bohrofen. Zaragoza then poked a humpback liner toward the second baseman, but the ball spun away on the bounce and skirted into right field, allowing Crooks and Hardman to score.

The Bears scored in the eighth inning on an RBI double by right fielder Davion Downey, an error and two walks to reach the 9-5 final.

Wyatt Olds (4-6) was charged with the loss while Luke Boyd (1-2) earned the win. Jason Ruffcorn started the series opener for the second straight week and got through 6.0 innings for the fourth straight outing.