April 2, 2005

Box Score

WACO, Texas - A three-run sixth inning propelled Oklahoma to a 5-2 victory over No. 15 Baylor in the middle game of a three-game Big 12 Conference series Saturday night at Baylor Ballpark. The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak in Big 12 home games for Baylor (18-11, 5-3), while Oklahoma (17-10, 3-2) snaps a five-game losing streak at Baylor Ballpark.

Baylor, which entered the contest as the fourth-best fielding team in the Big 12, committed a season-high five errors that led to three unearned runs. Meanwhile, Oklahoma pitchers Brad Burns, Daniel McCutcheon and John Brownell combined to hold Baylor to just four hits, three of which came in the eighth inning.

After two quick outs in the top of the sixth, Baylor starter Mark McCormick issued consecutive walks to Ryan Rohlinger and Eric Thornton. Kevin Smith followed with an RBI single, breaking a 1-1 tie. Freddy Rodriguez then scored Thornton with an infield single, and Smith scampered home when the throw to first sailed high.

The Bears had a golden opportunity to even the score in the eighth, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Michael Griffin singled to right-center, scoring Paul Witt from second and chasing McCutcheon from the game. Josh Ford followed with a sharply hit liner that nearly made it through the left side of the infield. However, Oklahoma shortstop Rodriguez snagged the liner and doubled off Kevin Russo at second.

Oklahoma added another unearned run in the top of the ninth on a single, a sacrifice and a Baylor throwing error.

McCormick (3-2) took the loss for the Bears, snapping his personal three-decision winning streak. It also snapped a streak of five consecutive wins for Baylor in McCormick starts. The junior right-hander allowed four runs, two earned, on three hits and five walks with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Jeff Mandel pitched the final 3.1 innings and allowed only an unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts.

Burns (2-0) earned the victory for the Sooners, holding Baylor hitless despite allowing a run on three walks with four strikeouts before leaving the game due to shoulder stiffness after 5.0 innings. All four Baylor hits came off McCutcheon, who also struck out four in his 2.0 innings of work. Brownell pitched the final two frames, entering the game just prior to Ford's line-out double play, for his second save of the season.

Oklahoma took the game's first lead with an unearned run in the top of the second. After a one-out Thornton single, Smith reached on a fielder's choice when Baylor first baseman Kyle Reynolds' throw to second sailed into left-center. Thornton later scored on a Rodriguez fielder's choice.

The Bears answered with a run on no hits in the bottom of the third. After consecutive walks by Witt and Russo to open the inning, Michael Griffin advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Ford followed with an RBI groundout to tie the game.

Baylor and Oklahoma conclude the three-game series Sunday at 2 p.m. CDT. Fans are reminded that Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday morning. The Bears send southpaw Cory VanAllen (4-2) to the mound, opposite Oklahoma right-hander Will Savage (3-2).

NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 26-23, including an 18-9 advantage in games played in Waco. The Bears are 15-12 against the Sooners since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997 and 16-17 against OU during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. ... Baylor is 10-4 at home against the Sooners since the inception of the Big 12. ... Friday's loss was Baylor's first in a Big 12 home game since dropping the first game of the 2004 Texas series (April 16). ... Baylor falls to 15-4 when the starting pitcher goes at least 5.0 innings and 6-10 when the opponent scores first. ... Ford has reached base in 24 consecutive games and in 28 of 29 games this season.