Sooners Fall To Pokes In First Game Of Bedlam Series

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Jordy Mercer seems to save his power stroke until the Bedlam rivalry rolls around again.<br/><br/>One of the less likely home run hitters in a lineup full of sluggers, Mercer hit the

Saturday, May 5th 2007, 1:27 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Jordy Mercer seems to save his power stroke until the Bedlam rivalry rolls around again.

One of the less likely home run hitters in a lineup full of sluggers, Mercer hit the second of back-to-back 7th-inning homers as Oklahoma State rallied to beat Oklahoma 8-7 Friday night in the opener of the Bedlam series.

"You live for this. You live to play in front of this many fans," Mercer said. "It's amazing. It's awesome."

After Rebel Ridling tied the game with a 2-run blast, Mercer came through with his fourth home run of the season -- a drive down the left field line. He ranks sixth in home runs on the Big 12's highest-scoring team.

"As soon as I hit it, I knew it was going to go over, so I just ran around the bases," Mercer said. "I didn't see where it went."

Mercer gave the Cowboys their first lead of the game and pushed Oklahoma State to only its second win in the past 10 Bedlam games that were decided by one run.

He also homered in two of Oklahoma State's three wins in its sweep of the regular-season Bedlam series last year. Oklahoma beat the Cowboys in the Big 12 tournament.

"He continues to be a Sooner killer right there and hit another ball out that was huge," Sooners coach Sunny Golloway.

Mercer explained that the Bedlam power surge was a result of "just excitement and having fun."

"I think it means a lot to him, being an Oklahoma kid and a small-town kid," Cowboys coach Frank Anderson said. "Probably more so than the kids in the big city. It's hugely important."

Oklahoma State (32-13, 11-8 has won the last seven series openers in Tulsa. The teams play Saturday and Sunday in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma State trailed 7-3 after the Sooners (28-18, 8-11) rallied for 3 runs in the top of the 6th. Pinch hitter Mike Gosse had a 2-run single, and Aljay Davis scored Oklahoma's seventh run when Mercer fielded a grounder by Aaron Ivey and threw home for a force out, but Cowboys catcher Ryan Flavell dropped the ball.

Ty Wright cut the deficit in half with a 2-run triple in the bottom of the inning, and Ridling tied it with his 2-run line shot over the left field wall in the 7th.

"We just kept battling back," Anderson said. "They got ahead, and I thought our guys competed very well."

Brandon Adams (2-0) struck out both batters he faced, and Justin Friend pitched 2 perfect innings for his sixth save. Aaron Baker grounded out to 2nd to end the game, and the Cowboys calmly exchanged handshakes in celebration.

Nich Conaway (3-3) stranded a runner at 3rd after coming in to relieve starter Stephen Porlier in the 6th, but hit Tyler Mach before giving up the home runs to Ridling and Mercer.

"I think the small ballpark, the wind blowing out and their power hitters didn't serve him well because once he got the ball up, he was in trouble," Golloway said.

The Sooners took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd without the benefit of a hit when Jackson Williams and Davis had consecutive RBI groundouts. Aaron Reza tripled to start the 4th inning and scored on Baker's sacrifice fly, and Williams' home run extended the lead to 4-1.

Mach cut the Cowboys' deficit to 1 with a 2-run double to deep center field.