Saturday College Baseball Roundup

OSU picked up a walk-off victory, OU ended its losing streak and ORU picked up a 'W,' as well, in Saturday's college baseball action.

Sunday, May 4th 2014, 12:21 am

By: News 9


Another Walk-Off Win For Cowboys

STILLWATER, Okla. – Donnie Walton's walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted No. 9 Oklahoma State to a series-clinching win over 26th-ranked Arizona State Saturday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

The win was the fifth in a row for the Cowboys as they clinched their sixth-straight series victory and improved to 34-13 on the season. It was also OSU's 20th come-from-behind and fourth walk-off win of the year, and the Pokes are now 10-0 in one-run games.

Holliday's Cowboys had left the bases loaded in the eighth and 10th innings and were in danger of doing so again in the 11th.

After Saulyer Saxon was hit by a pitch to lead off the decisive inning, Tim Arakawa singled up the middle and a throwing error put OSU runners on second and third. An intentional walk to Craig McConaughy loaded the bases with no outs, but Andrew Rosa and Gage Green both struck out to bring up Walton.

And the sophomore shortstop delivered, lining an opposite-field single to left field that a diving Christoper Beall couldn't snare to set off a Cowboy celebration.

The Cowboys needed runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to send the game to extra innings, and OSU also got another standout relief effort from Vince Wheeland. The senior right-hander did not allow a run over the final 4 1/3 innings, giving up just two hits and striking out three to improve to 6-0 on the season.

ASU (24-19) scored a pair of runs in its first at bat off OSU starter Tyler Buffett, who lasted just two innings, and the Sun Devils took a 3-0 advantage in the third.

But OSU would rally to tie the score in the fourth, compliments of Tanner Krietemeier's eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, and an RBI double off the bat of McConaughy.

The game remained tied until the seventh when ASU plated a pair of unearned runs following errors by Aaron Cornell and McConaughy to take a 5-3 advantage.

In the eighth, Arakawa cut into the Cowboys' deficit with an RBI single, one of a career-high four hits for the OSU second baseman, to make the score 5-4. OSU threatened further damage in the frame, but ASU closer Ryan Burr struck out Green and Walton to leave the bases full.

Still trailing 5-4 entering in the ninth, Zach Fish drew a leadoff walk, and pinch hitter Corey Hassel delivered a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runner in to scoring position. After a strikeout and a walk, Arakawa again came up huge as he sent an opposite-field single to left field to tie the score at 5-5.

OSU was poised for a win in the bottom of the 10th as three consecutive walks with no outs loaded the bases, but Burr was once again able to work out of trouble.

In the 11th, Wheeland retired the Sun Devils in order for the second-straight inning, paving the way for Walton's clutch heroics in the bottom of the frame.

OSU finished the contest with 16 hits, with six different Cowboys turning in multi-hit efforts.

The Cowboys will look to complete the series sweep Sunday at noon.

 

Sooners End Skid As Offense Comes Alive

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma baseball team used an eight-run fourth inning to erase an early deficit on its way to a 13-7 win over Baylor, ending a seven-game losing streak, at L. Dale Mitchell Park in front of 1,646 on Saturday afternoon. The Sooners improved to 26-22 overall and 6-11 in the Big 12, while the Bears fell to 21-27 and 6-13.

Trailing 6-3 at the middle of the fourth inning, senior second baseman Hector Lorenzana got the ball rolling for the OU lineup with a solo home run to left field to turn the inning over to the top of the order with just one out in a two-run game. The Sooners loaded the bases on two singles and a walk to set up a two-run, game-tying single through the right side by junior catcher Mac James. Redshirt-junior right fielder Taylor Alspaugh, who walked scored from second by sliding around the tag at home off a throw that was up the third base line.

With two runners in scoring position, freshman first baseman Austin O'Brien ripped a double to the left-center alley that brought in both runners and gave Oklahoma its first lead of the day, 8-6. The runs continued to pile up for the Sooners as sophomore left fielder Hunter Haley and Lorenzana added RBI singles.

Redshirt-junior right-hander Robert Tasin was the first reliever called on out of the OU bullpen. Despite allowing a two-run home run to right fielder Adam Toth in the fourth, he was able to settle in and put some zeroes on the scoreboard to put himself in line for the win. Ultimately, Tasin (4-4) pitched five innings and surrendered just the two runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out a pair.

Oklahoma added two more runs in the fifth off solo home runs by freshman third baseman Sheldon Neuse and sophomore catcher Anthony Hermelyn.

Sophomore center fielder Craig Aikin recorded the first four-hit game of his career with a 4-for-5 performance. He scored twice, doubled and tripled. Aikin, Neuse (3-for-5) and Hermelyn (4-for-5) were each one hit away from the cycle with each playing needing a different variation of an extra-base hit.

Baylor struck early for two runs in both the first and second innings against sophomore left-handed starter Jacob Evans. Evans was chased after allowing four runs on five hits.

The Sooners stuck around by answering with one in the first and two in the second. Hermelyn led off the second with his first career triple and score on a base hit up the middle by Haley. Oklahoma cut the lead to one on a triple to left-center by Aikin, his second extra-base hit in as many innings.

Lefty Daniel Castano (5-3) took the loss in a 3.1-inning start for the Bears. He was tagged for nine runs on 12 hits and a walk. Toth finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two driven in.

The series wraps up on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Sophomore right-hander Ralph Garza Jr. will get the start after making a brief relief appearance in the opener on Friday night. The game will also be the final home game of the season and "Senior Day" as Oklahoma will honor its graduating student-athletes; Lorenzana, Kyle Hayes, Drew Krittenbrink, Kindle Ladd, and Dylan Neal.

 

Trevino, Boss Homer To Pace ORU

CONWAY, Ark. Seven different Oral Roberts University batters crossed the plate on Saturday night as the Golden Eagles tamed Central Arkansas, 8-4, on the road. ORU (24-22) moved back into an eighth place tie with the Bears (23-20) as each squad's Southland Conference mark to 11-12.

Matt Brandy led the Golden Eagles at the plate with four hits and two runs, while Logan Domenico and Audie Afenir each finished with two hits. All nine Golden Eagle starters reached safely with hits in the contest.

Gavin Glanz (3-4) earned the win as he pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Kurt Giller went two innings without allowing a run, and Jordan Romano got the last out of the game with the bases loaded for his conference-best 10th save.

Tyler Langley drove in three of the Bears' runs on a triple in the seventh inning. Langley finished with two hits, as did Doug Votolato, Justin Treece and Wesley Hoover. Starting pitcher Chris Caudle (6-4) took the loss, allowing six runs in 4.2 innings.

The Golden Eagles used two-run innings in the third, fourth and fifth innings to jump out to a 6-0 lead. ORU's scoring started in the third as Brandon Healy laid down squeeze bunt to score Afenir and Emmanuel Forcier followed with an RBI double to drive in Austen Colt, making it a 2-0 lead for the Golden Eagles.

In the next inning, the Golden Eagles extended their lead as Brandy doubled and scored on a triple by Anthony Sequeira. Afenir followed with a deep fly ball to center to bring home Sequeira to extend the lead to 4-0.

Following a two-out single by Domenico in the fifth, Trevino stepped in and hit his eighth home run of the season over the scoreboard in left field to bring the score to 6-0 after five innings.

In the home half of the seventh, the Bears cut into the Golden Eagle lead with four runs. With the bases loaded, Chris Townsend reached on a fielder's choice with a runner being forced out at third. However, in an attempt to turn a double play, the ball was thrown away, allowing a run to score for the Bears' first run of the evening.

After a walk loaded the bases for the second time in the inning, Langley cleared the bases with a triple to left center cut the lead to 6-4.

But in the top of the eighth, the Golden Eagles answered with a pair of runs. On the first pitch of the inning, Boss hit a home run out to left center, his third home run of the season. Later in the inning, the Golden Eagles went up 8-4 as Brandy scored on a groundball off the bat of Healy.

The Bears threatened in the bottom of the ninth as the loaded the bases, but Romano entered the game and induced a fly ball to right for the final out of the night.

ORU goes for the series victory at UCA on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Conway, Ark.

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