March 24, 2006

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. -- Chase Gerdes snagged Jackson Williams' liner to center with the bases loaded in the ninth as No. 22 Baylor edged No. 23 Oklahoma 6-5 at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Friday's Big 12 Conference series opener. Baylor (16-6, 3-1) snapped a five-game losing streak at Oklahoma (18-6, 0-1) with the win, its first at Mitchell Park since the 2002 season.

The win did not come easily for the Bears, who first rallied for a four spot in the top of the ninth and then withstood a furious two-out rally by the Sooners in the bottom of the inning. It marked Baylor's third last-at-bat victory this season and its second victory when trailing after eight innings.

Ben Booker tied the game at 3-3 with a one-out RBI single in the ninth. Jeff Mandel then put the Bears ahead with a first-and-third RBI bunt single. However, it was Gerdes' two-out, two-run single that proved to be the difference in the game as Baylor took a 6-3 lead.

Mandel quickly retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth before Ryan Rohlinger kept the inning alive with a seeing-eye single through the right side. Kevin Smith then singled down the right-field line, and Russell Raley followed with an RBI bloop single down the line in right.

After walking Joe Dunigan to load the bases, Mandel got Kody Kaiser to bounce one up the middle. Beamer Weems fielded the ball and flipped to Booker covering at second, but Dunigan was called safe. That allowed Smith to score from third, loading the bases and pulling the Sooners within one run. However, Mandel got Williams to fly out, ending the threat and the game.

Lost in the wild ninth were strong outings by both starting pitchers. Baylor's Ryan LaMotta allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts over 6.2 innings. Oklahoma's Daniel McCutcheon was dominating through the first eight innings before the Bears' ninth inning rally. McCutcheon (3-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits with seven strikeouts in 8.1 innings.

Jake Weghorst (1-0) entered the game with one out in the eighth, recorded the next two outs and notched his first career win. Mandel earned his sixth save in as many opportunities.

Baylor took an early lead on a Matt Sodolak two-out RBI single in the top of the first. Oklahoma returned the favor in the second on a Williams' two-out RBI single. The Sooners again got things going with two outs and the bases empty in the fourth. After a single and a walk, Smith and Raley had consecutive two-out RBI singles to give the Sooners a 3-1 lead.

The Bears got a run back in the seventh when Raley's turn on a double-play attempt sailed into the first-base dugout and Sodolak scored from third.

Sodolak finished the day 3-for-4 to lead the Bears at the plate.

The Bears were without Zach Dillon for most of the game. The senior catcher was forced to leave the game after being struck on the head on Dunigan's follow-through in the bottom of the second. Dillon received eight stitches for an inch-and-a-half cut. He is expected to return to the lineup for Saturday's game.

Baylor and Oklahoma continue their three-game series Saturday at 3 p.m. CST. The Bears send southpaw Cory VanAllen (3-1, 2.89) to the mound, opposite Oklahoma right-hander Steven Guerra (7-0, 2.83).