Cardiac Kids Strike Again

The Oklahoma Sooners have made a habit out of late-game come backs and last-inning heroics.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:46 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Jun 4, 2010 6:59 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The Sooners are no strangers to close games.

With their 7-6 win over Oral Roberts, Oklahoma recorded its tenth one-run win of the season on Friday. The Sooners have clinched the win in the ninth inning or later in four their five previous victories.

Despite it being a new opponent for OU, the story was unchanged.

“We’ve had other teams take the lead and we’ve always been able to come back from behind,” said Oklahoma head coach Sunny Golloway.

“It was a little bit different feel than what I’ve been getting from our guys, but the outcome was still the same. One of the things the coaching staff and I continue to say is stay positive and don’t panic.”

That coaching was never more evident than it was in the top of the ninth.

With two on and two outs in the top of the ninth Tyler Saladino – who leads ORU with 73 RBIs on the season – came to bat for Oral Roberts. When he swung on the first pitch he saw, it seemed to be heading between the second baseman and shortstop to bring in at least two runs. OU second baseman Danny Black stretched out to knock the ball down and turn what would have been a two-run double into an infield single.

Oral Roberts head coach Rob Walton said it was the play of the game.

“Their second baseman Black made a big league play up the middle on [Tyler] Saladino’s base hit,” said Walton. “Had Tyler knocked the ball down and that hadn’t happened, we win the ball game.”

But Black was just doing what he was coached to do.

“Coach [Golloway] trained us to knock everything down when there are runners on, keep runners from scoring and keep it in the infield,” said Black. “I was just trying to keep it in the infield and I was fortunate enough to be able to stop it and let [Ryan] Duke get the last out.”

In the bottom of the tenth, after Caleb Bushyhead struck out looking with one out and the bases loaded, Chris Ellison walked up to the plate and the pressure may have gotten to most players.

With two outs on the board, he swung on the second pitch he saw and sent it back up the middle to bring Cody Reine home and send Oklahoma to the winner’s bracket.

When asked if it was his dream scenario his answer was simple.

“Definitely,” said Ellison. “I was just glad to get that hit.”

But no matter the team, the coaching or the situation, the game boiled down to players making big plays in clutch situations.

“I just saw some student-athletes that I was extremely proud of on both sides of the field,” said Golloway. “They realize it’s now or never. It was a great game and we were very fortunate to come out with the victory.”