The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
Baseball drops series finale to Oklahoma, 5-2
04.01.2007 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- No. 9 Texas was unable to complete a sweep of No. 17 Oklahoma as the Longhorns dropped a 5-2 decision to the Sooners in collegiate baseball action Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The win marked the first time the Sooners beat the Longhorns in Austin since the 1997 season, snapping a string of 15 consecutive home wins for Texas against Oklahoma. With the loss, the Longhorns are now 4-5 on Sundays and 21-4 during the remainder of the week.
Oklahoma (21-9, 3-3 Big 12) drew first blood with a run in the top of the third inning. With one out, Vincent Biancamano and Aaron Ivey hit back-to-back singles. After Texas recorded the second out of the inning, Joe Dunigan plated Biancamano with a single to leftfield, staking the Sooners to a 1-0 lead.
Texas (25-9, 7-2 Big 12) took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jordan Danks hit a leadoff single, moved to third on a groundout by Bradley Suttle and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Russell. Preston Clark followed with a home run down the leftfield line giving UT a 2-1 advantage.
The Sooners recaptured the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Ivey hit a leadoff single up the middle and Aljay Davis reached on a bunt single to drive UT starter Joseph Krebs from the game. Keith Shinaberry relieved Krebs and retired Dunigan on strikes before allowing a game-tying single by Aaron Baker. Davis was retired at third on the play, but Oklahoma continued the rally. Pat McCrory relieved Shinaberry and issued a walk to Devin Shepherd and pushed runners to second and third with a wild pitch. Aaron Reza made the Longhorns pay with a two-run single up the middle giving the Sooners a 4-2 lead.
Oklahoma tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning as Jackson Williams hit a solo home run to leftfield.
Texas misfired on a three key scoring opportunities. In the first inning, the Longhorns led off with three infield singles but were not able to score a run as Travis Tucker was picked off at second base and Chance Wheeless was retired on a double play on a fly ball hit by Suttle. In the fifth inning, Chais Fuller hit a leadoff triple but was thrown out at home trying to score on a ground ball hit by Nick Peoples. After Peoples stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, the Longhorns were unable to drive him home with one out. In the eighth inning, Wheeless and Danks reached base on a walk and a single, but UT's top two hitters, Suttle and Russell were strikeout victims of OU reliever Nich Conaway.
Joseph Hughes (5-1) earned the win for the Sooners, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings. Conaway picked up a rare four-inning save as he allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out four. It was his second save of the season.
Shinaberry (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Texas. Austin Wood was the most effective pitcher for the Longhorns, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two over three innings of relief.
Texas returns to action Tuesday with the Longhorns hosting UT San Antonio in a 6:05 p.m. contest at UFUC Disch-Falk Field.
