Baylor
Oklahoma
Two-Out Rally Again Leads to 4-3 Baseball Win
3/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2003
WACO, Texas - Eighth-ranked Baylor scored three runs with two outs in the seventh to overcome No. 30 Oklahoma for the second day and earn a 4-3 win Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.
In similar fashion to Friday night's 6-5 Baylor win, the Bears (20-6, 4-1 Big 12) again put together the winning rally with two outs. Oklahoma (11-8, 0-2 Big 12) followed its pattern from the previous game, as well; after stranding 12 runners Friday, the Sooners left 11 more on base Saturday.
With Oklahoma leading 2-1 in the seventh, Sooner starter Buddy Blair (2-3) got the first two outs quickly. Mark Saccomanno singled up the middle, one of three hits on the day for the fifth-year senior, and Paul Witt rapped the next pitch to left for a base hit.
After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Blair elected to intentionally walk Chris Durbin and pitch to David Murphy instead. Murphy worked the count full, then took ball four to force home Saccomanno from third and tie the game. Oklahoma brought in Jarod McAuliff to pitch to Josh Ford, and the Bears' catcher greeted the Sooners' closer with a single up the middle that drove in two runs and gave Baylor a 4-3 lead.
The runs made a winner out of reliever Zane Carlson (1-2), who pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking one. Leading by two in the ninth, Carlson allowed one run on one hit as the Baylor defensive strategy focused on preventing a tie.
With two outs in the ninth, Carlson walked Eddie Cornejo. The shortstop took second base on defensive indifference and scored on a bloop hit to left by Jay Yaconetti that dropped in front of leftfielder Michael Griffin, who was playing deep to prevent an extra-base hit. Carlson struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Johnson for the final out of the game.
Left-hander Trey Taylor started the game for Baylor and lasted five innings, allowing five hits and two runs. The sophomore walked three and struck out just one. Taylor left the game after loading the bases to start the sixth, leading 1-0.
Baylor head coach brought in freshman Tyler Bullock from the pen for his third appearance. The rookie got two infield grounders from the first two batters he faced, plating one run, then picked up a strikeout for the second out. A walk forced in Oklahoma's second run, but Bullock struck out pinch-hitter Andrew McGuire looking to escape further damage.
Bullock ran into trouble in the seventh, hitting a batter and giving up a hit, but Carlson came in and finished out the game without further incident to earn the win.
The bottom of the Baylor order produced the Bears' first run. Trey Webb singled, Saccomanno doubled and Witt singled in Webb to give Baylor a 1-0 lead in the fourth.
Webb, Saccomanno and Witt combined to go 7-for-11 on the day; the rest of Baylor's line-up had just two hits in 21 at-bats.
Baylor will look for the weekend sweep of the Sooners Sunday at 1 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.
