Sooners Fall At Wichita State

The No. 25 University of Oklahoma baseball team suffered a 9-8 loss at Wichita State after leading the game 6-0 in front of 3,719 at Eck Stadium, Tuesday night. The Sooners, who dropped their third straight, fell to 29-19 overall, while the Shockers improved to 18-26.

The bottom of the eighth started with a lead-off single to center by left fielder Mikel Mucha, who was then sacrificed into scoring position. With OU in front 8-7, a hit-by-pitch put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base with just one out. After the second out was recorded, WSU right fielder Sam Hilliard lined his fourth hit of the night, a single into center field that plated the game-tying run. The ball was misplayed in center and went all the way to the track; allowing the go-ahead run to come across and give the Shockers their first lead of the night and hold on to beat the Sooners.

Oklahoma erupted for five runs on seven hits in the second inning and looked as though it would run away with the game. The Sooners batted around, beginning with a lead-off single by junior second baseman Kolbey Carpenter. Junior left fielder Hunter Haley doubled to put two in scoring position. Carpenter scored on a sacrifice-fly to get OU on the board and redshirt-sophomore third baseman Tyler Coolbaugh made it 2-0 with a base hit off the pitcher's foot for his first career hit and RBI.

After junior center fielder Craig Aikin singled, Oklahoma rattled off three-straight one-out, RBI-singles from redshirt-senior first baseman Robert Tasin, junior catcher Anthony Hermelyn and sophomore shortstop Sheldon Neuse.

The Sooners added to their lead in the third with back-to-back doubles from Haley and junior designated hitter Jacob Evans to make it 6-0, but Wichita State refused to go quietly. The Shockers rallied for four runs on three hits in the bottom of the third, capped off with a two-run home run by DH Taylor Sanagorski.

Junior right-hander Ralph Garza Jr. took the loss for Oklahoma. He dropped to 2-3 on the year, while allowing four runs, two earned, on two hits and a walk. Garza did strike out five, including the side in the seventh. Evans was on the hill to face Hilliard in the eighth when WSU went in front.

John Hayes (4-0) claimed the win in 1.1 innings of relief. He allowed a hit and a walk, but struck out three.

Junior right-hander Corey Copping lasted three innings in the start for Oklahoma as he gave up four runs on five hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts. Hermelyn finished the night 3-for-4 with two RBI and his second home run of the season. The Sooners totaled 14 hits and had five players record a multi-hit game.

The Sooners return to action Friday night at 7:00 pm against Oklahoma State in game one of the “Bedlam Series” at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.