Sooners Beat Mavericks In 10th Inning

Redshirt-junior right fielder Taylor Alspaugh belted the first pitch of the 10th inning over the wall in the right field corner for his third home run of the season, leading the way for a 3-2 win for the Oklahoma baseball team over Texas-Arlington on Tuesday night.

The Sooners improved to 12-5 on the season, in front of 1,858 at Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers. The Mavericks fell to 5-11 with the loss.

For Alspaugh it was his only hit of the night, but his third home run of the season.

UTA forced extra innings with a run off OU sophomore right-handed closer Ralph Garza Jr. in the bottom of the ninth. Right fielder John Michael Twichell was hit by a pitch to lead things off and sacrificed into scoring position. Second baseman Darien McLemore, who entered the game in the seventh as a pinch-hitter, then lined a double into right-center to score Twichell and tied the game, 2-2.

Garza (1-0) stayed on to pitch a scoreless 10th frame to earn his first victory of the season. Senior RHP Kindle Ladd was the first Sooner out of the bullpen. He tossed five shutout innings; allowing just three hits and one walk, while striking out three.

Ladd entered the game in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and nobody out. He allowed a sacrifice-fly and got a groundball double play to end the scoring threat at just one run. Junior righty-hander Connor Buchmann went three-plus innings in his third start of the season. He didn't allow a hit, but walked five and struck out one as he surrendered the one run.

Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Freshman third baseman Sheldon Neuse collected his first of four hits with a two-out double and scored on a base hit to center by junior catcher Mac James. Neuse finished the day 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs.

Neuse started the sixth inning with a single up the middle. Sophomore left fielder Hunter Haley  followed with a single of his own to put two men on with one out. After a strikeout, freshman DH Niko Buentello stepped up to the plate and laced a double to left-center to bring in Neuse with the go-ahead run. Buentello went 2-for-3 on the day.

For the Mavericks, lefty Chase Weaver lasted four innings in the start; allowing one run on four hits and two walks. Righty Colin Tornberg (0-1) took the loss in one inning of relief. He let up one run on two hits.

At the plate, UTA was held to five hits. McLemore recorded a 2-for-3 day.

The Sooners return to action with a three-game home series against Belmont. Game one is Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m.