March 28, 2008
Box Score
NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma took control of the game with a six-run second, and No. 20 Baylor never could recover as the Bears dropped an 11-2 decision to the Sooners in Friday night's Big 12 Conference series opener at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Baylor (15-8, 2-5) has lost four consecutive Big 12 games, including three straight series openers. Oklahoma (19-7-1, 1-2-1) has won nine of the last 11 meetings at Norman.
The Sooners sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning. J.T. Wise led off with a double as the inning's first four batters hit safely. Oklahoma had seven hits in the inning. The Sooners added four runs in the third on three hits and a pair of walks.
Baylor was held hitless until Landis Ware's one-out infield single in the fifth. Raynor Campbell led off the seventh with a double and later scored on Jon Ringenberg's RBI groundout. Shaver Hansen led off the eighth with a double and later scored on Adam Hornung's RBI single.
Oklahoma capped the scoring in the bottom of the eighth, plating a run on two hits.
Baylor starter Kendal Volz (3-2) took the loss, allowing nine runs on nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 2.1 innings. Randall Linebaugh pitched well in relief, holding Oklahoma to one run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Oklahoma starter Jeremy Erben (1-0) allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over 7.2 innings for the win.
Campbell finished 2-for-3 with a walk; he was the only Baylor batter with a multiple-hit game.
Baylor and Oklahoma continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT. The Bears send right-hander Shawn Tolleson (2-1, 3.99 ERA) to the mound. The Sooners counter with right-hander Andrew Doyle (4-2, 2.50 ERA).
NOTES: Baylor leads the all-time series 31-27, including a 20-16 advantage since the inception of the Big 12 Conference and an 18-16 edge in regular-season Big 12 meetings. However, Oklahoma leads the series 17-6 in games played at Norman. ... Baylor is 21-21 against Oklahoma under head coach Steve Smith. ... Volz allowed the most runs in any of his career starts and tied for the most hits allowed. After not allowing a run prior to the fifth inning in any of his first four starts, Volz has allowed 17 runs in the first three innings combined over his last two starts. ... Hansen (three games) and Hornung (three games) both extended hitting streaks, while Beamer Weems saw his three-game streak end.
