Sunday College Baseball Roundup

The Oklahoma and Oklahoma State baseball teams both lost their series' on Sunday, while Oral Roberts earned a blowout victory.

Sooners Drop Series Against Baylor

WACO, Texas -- The University of Oklahoma baseball team had several big innings at the plate, but it was not enough in a 12-10 loss to Baylor Sunday afternoon in Waco, Texas.

After seven total runs were scored by both teams in the first two games of the series, the Sooners (28-8, 8-4 Big 12) and Bears (19-17, 7-4) combined to score nine runs in the first inning and a half Sunday. It was the offensive explosion both teams were looking for, but back-to-back four-run innings in the seventh and eighth for the Bears was the difference.

The Sooners opened the game with a two-run first inning, but Baylor responded right back with four runs in the bottom half of the frame to chase OU starter Adam Choplick after two outs. The Sooners wasted no time and answered with three runs in the top of the second to take a 5-4 lead. Oklahoma extended its lead to 9-4 with one run in the third and three runs in the fourth.

Ralph Garza Jr., who came in to pitch with two outs in the first inning, threw 4.1 innings in relief and allowed no runs. The freshman right-hander allowed just three hits, struck out three and walked one.

BU scored four runs in the seventh to cut OU's lead to just one at 9-8. After the Sooners scored one in the top of the eighth, a Cal Towey grand slam to right in the bottom of the frame gave Baylor a 12-10 advantage. It was BU's first lead since the first inning and capped an eight-run rally.

Left-hander Jacob Evans gave up the grand slam and suffered his first loss of the season. Baylor's Crayton Bare pitched the final two innings and gave up the lone eighth-inning run but earned the victory.

Hunter Haley provided the power in OU's three-run second with a two-run homer to right that scored Anthony Hermelyn. Haley had three hits, batted in two runs and scored one on the afternoon.

After one run in the third, the Sooners added to their total with three runs in the fourth. Back-to-back infield singles put two runners on for OU for Hector Lorenzana, who sent a two-out single up the middle that scored two. A Hermelyn doubled to right center scored Lorenzana for the third and final run of the inning.

Lorenzana had three RBIs and two hits in five at bats Sunday.

The Sooners return home for a doubleheader Tuesday against Arkansas-Little Rock. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT with the second contest starting at 6:30.

Cowboys Lose Series To TCU On Walk-Off Double

FORT WORTH, Texas – Oklahoma State was two outs away from a series win Sunday at TCU, but a pinch-hit, three-RBI double gave the Horned Frogs a 3-2 victory over the 22nd-ranked Cowboys at Lupton Stadium.

With the bases loaded and OSU leading 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Brett Johnson delivered a Brendan McCurry pitch over the head of Cowboy center fielder Jarrett Higgins, and Dylan Fitzgerald slid home with the winning run just ahead of the relay throw to give TCU the win.

OSU stranded 15 runners on the base paths in the loss and was shutout over the final seven innings as coach Josh Holliday's club dropped its second-straight Big 12 series.

With the loss, OSU fell to 24-10 overall and 5-6 in Big 12 Conference play, while TCU is now 16-20 and 5-7 in the league.

The loss spoiled a strong effort from OSU starter Tyler Nurdin, who came up shy of his first-career win. Pitching in his hometown, the sophomore southpaw worked a career-long 7.1 innings without allowing a run. He struck out seven, one shy of his career high, and gave up just five hits before being relieved by McCurry with one out in the eighth.

In the decisive ninth inning, McCurry surrendered back-to-back singles to Jantzen Witte and Kevin Cron, with the runners advancing to second and third on Cron's hit following an error by Higgins.

Up next, McCurry got Derek Odell to line out to shortstop before Fitzgerald was intentionally walked to load the bases.

That brought Johnson to the plate, and after working the count full, he delivered the bases clearing double to earn the series win for the Frogs.

OSU scored its runs in the first two innings, and both were of the unearned variety.

Saulyer Saxon led off the game with a single and scored on a two-out infield single by Tanner Krietemeier after Odell was unable to handle a throw at first base.

The Cowboys pushed their lead to 2-0 in the second when Robbie Rea, who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, later scored on a wild pitch.

OSU finished with seven hits in the contest, with Donnie Walton and Trey Whaley collecting two apiece, but over the final seven innings the Cowboys left 14 runners on base.

The blown save and loss dropped McCurry to 3-2 on the season. The junior righty entered the game having allowed just one earned run in 14 appearances.

OSU returns to action Tuesday when the Cowboys travel to Springfield, Mo., to take on Missouri State.

ORU's Zufall Tames Southeastern Louisiana in 9-1 Victory

TULSA, Okla. – Tim Zufall earned his fourth victory on the mound behind plenty of run support from the Oral Robert offense as the Golden Eagles rolled past Southeastern Louisiana, 9-1.

The senior pitcher completed eight innings in the win. He allowed seven hits and struck out five. Kurt Giller entered the game in the ninth, sitting down the Lions in order, including a strikeout.

One of the struggles this season has been consistent offense and driving in runners when in scoring position. On Sunday, the Golden Eagles plated five runs with two or more outs in an inning.

Entering the bottom of the third, the game looked like it would be a pitchers' dual as the Golden Eagles came to the plate in a scoreless ball game. However, the Golden Eagles broke open the game with four runs on two hits, a couple of walks and a Lion error.

With Kevin Cho standing on first following the error, Matt Brandy hit a ball into the left-center field gap for a standout triple, scoring Cho. After Logan Domenico drew a walk, Jose Trevino drove in his first run of the game as Brandy scored on a fielder's choice. Domenico was out on the play.

Tyler Boss then drew a walk, which pushed Trevino to second, just before Nate Goro stepped in and doubled down the left field line to score both runners, giving the Golden Eagles a 4-0 lead.

Trevino earned his 17th RBI in the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle to drive in Domenico from second. Domenico had previously walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

ORU put together another big inning in the home half of the seventh inning as a pair of two-out walks to Domenico and Trevino set up a three-run shot to left off the bat of Boss, his third home run of the year.

Domenico finished with three walks, scored twice and had a hit.

Chris Williams joined the ORU hit parade in the bottom of the eight with a double to left. He quickly scored as Austen Colt followed with a double of his own, to solidify the Golden Eagles' 9-1 victory.

Eight of the nine Golden Eagles in the lineup recorded hits on the afternoon with Boss picking up the only multi-hit game. Trevino and Boss joined Domenico in the two-run club in the contest.

Earning the loss for Southeastern Louisiana on the mound was Andro Cutura. He was pulled after 2.2 innings and allowed five hits and four runs.

The Lion run came in the top of the fifth as Kyle Cedotal, who led the inning off with a double, scored on a single to left from Jameson Fisher. However, Cedotal was caught in a rundown, trying to advance to second on the throw, to end the inning.

Despite a couple of defensive blunders for the Golden Eagles, Brandon Healy made two diving plays on hard hit balls to third, including a liner in the eighth to end the inning.

ORU improves their overall record to 11-23 and 6-6 in Southland Conference play. The Golden Eagles return to action on Friday as they make their first ever trip to Huntsville, Texas, to face Sam Houston State.