Oklahoma forces
Oklahoma forces rubber game of series with the series tied vs. No. 3 Texas at one game apiece with a dramatic 8-6 win Friday night in baseball at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
In front of a single-game record crowd of 5,177, junior Dawson Willis hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth to give OU its second top-five victory of the season. Senior reliever Dylan Crooks earned his 13th save of the season in the ninth, leaving the bases loaded with a fly out to left field.
OU struck first in the bottom of the second on a solo shot from junior Brayden Horton. It was the first-year Sooner’s first of the season to give OU a 1-0 lead through two.
Texas responded at the top of the third with a sacrifice fly RBI from Kimble Schuessler to tie the game. Oklahoma quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the inning as Dawson Willis raced home on a wild pitch after reaching on a bunt single and stealing second.
OU starting left-handed pitcher Cade Crossland worked a quick top of the fourth before OU utilized small ball to score three runs on three hits and a pair of Texas errors in the home half. An infield single from Kyle Branch started the flurry, followed by an error on a bunt laid down by Horton that allowed Branch to score. After a bunt single from sophomore Dasan Harris, a fielder’s choice bunt from Willis plated Horton. The final run of the frame came by way of an RBI single to left from junior Trey Gambill to put OU on top 5-1.
The Longhorns once again responded, putting up five runs at the top of the fifth. An RBI single from Ethan Mendoza started the rally, followed by a two-run double from Rylan Galvan and RBI triple from Jalin Flores. An RBI single to center from Adrian Rodriguez closed the inning’s scoring and gave the Horns a 6-5 lead headed into the final half of the game.
OU senior reliever Reid Hensley entered at the end of the fifth and worked a trio of scoreless frames, stranding the bases loaded with a strikeout in the eighth. He finished the night with a career-high six strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.
In the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff double from senior Scott Mudler, Horton tied the game with an RBI single to right field. Two batters later, Willis hit a towering two-run, go-ahead home run to left field, sending the largest crowd in Mitchell Park history into a frenzy.
Texas did not go down without a fight, loading the bases in the ninth on a pair of singles and a hit by pitch. Crooks induced a fly out to heralded Texas freshman Jonah Williams to end the game. Crooks’ 13th save on the season ranks fourth in a single-season program history and are the most since Ryan Duke had 16 in 2009.
Willis’ go-ahead blast in the eighth was his first hit since April 26 at Georgia and first home run since April 12 vs. Vanderbilt.
Horton and Willis, the seven and nine hole hitters, paced OU on the night with 2-for-3 showings with two and three RBIs, respectively.
On the mound, Crossland went 4.2 innings and surrendered six runs on six hits with three walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts. Relievers James Hitt (0.0), Hensley (3.1) and Crooks (1.0) closed the contest with Hensley fanning a career-best six and Crooks striking out one in the ninth.
The teams meet for the rubber match at 2 p.m. CT Saturday. Limited tickets are still available via SoonerSports.com/tickets.
The game can be seen via SECN+ and heard on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF in Oklahoma or nationwide on The Varsity Network app.
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