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View Full Version : Clutch Hits Lead OU Past A&M



Jay C. Upchurch
3/24/2007, 07:10 PM
NORMAN — OU’s offensive problems on Friday were answered in game two of the series against Texas A&M on Saturday as the No. 20 Sooners topped the No. 8 Aggies, 9-3. After an 0-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position in game one, the Sooners responded to connect for eight hits in nine at-bats with runners on second and third in game two.

The Sooners (19-7 overall, 1-1 Big 12) and Aggies (22-4, 3-2) were tied at one heading into the bottom of the fifth inning when OU opened up the game with eight runs over the final four innings.

“Today’s win was about mental toughness, said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “The coaching staff always stresses the importance of being mentally tough and how that allows you to overcome adversity and shine in the end. We did just that today after Friday’s offensive performance.”

Joe Dunigan led the offensive charge with all three of his hits coming with runners in scoring position, resulting in four RBIs, tying a season high. Dunigan, who leads OU with 31 RBIs this season, has driven in 16 runs in his last seven games and has finished five of those games with multiple-RBI performances.

“Joe exemplified today’s theme of mental toughness with three straight hits after stranding a runner in his first at-bat,” added Golloway. “That is the type of player Joe has become and he provided us with three key hits today that really got us going. Joe’s performance is what we try to teach our young men everyday. Regardless of what you do or don’t do early in a game, all that matters is how you perform in that next at-bat or with that next pitch.

“I was proud of Joe and the team’s performance to come back from a loss in game one, but now we have to come right back on Sunday and try to win the series.”

As Dunigan provided the offense, Heath Taylor improved to 5-0 on the mound with six innings of five-hit ball. Making just his second start of the season, Taylor struck out four batters and allowed two runs on four hits and four walks.

“Heath continues to impress us because he is does not allow what we do offensively to distract him,” said Golloway. “He knows his job is to hold the opposition at bay and he continues to do that despite some of the mistakes we have made with him on the mound.”

Texas A&M’s Kyle Thebeau was not as successful in his start allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks. Thebeau (2-1) lasted 5 1/3 innings and struck out three in his first loss of the season.

Just like Friday, OU struck first with Dunigan’s RBI single to left field in the third inning. The Aggies were scoreless until the fifth inning when they tied the score at one apiece on Brandon Hicks’ double down the left field line which plated Parker Dalton.

The Sooners quickly responded with their at-bat in the bottom of the fifth as OU took advantage of three Texas A&M errors. Dunigan struck again with a RBI single and was followed by Jackson Williams’ RBI off a fielder’s choice and Jarod Freeman’s RBI single.

OU did not look back after the fifth inning, as it increased the lead to five runs with a pair of scores in the sixth inning. After Texas A&M narrowed the gap with a run in the top of the seventh, OU again responded with a three-run at-bat in the bottom half of the inning to put the game out of reach.

Saturday’s win marks the fourth consecutive year that OU has dropped game one of the series against Texas A&M and come back to win game two. That trend has also held true for the six straight seasons in the all-time series as OU won the opener in 2003 and Texas A&M in 2002 and 2001.

The Sooners and Aggies will play the final and decisive game three on Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The game can be heard live via an internet broadcast available on Yahoo.

For more information on OU baseball, visit www.soonersports.com.

OU SID

TopDawg
3/24/2007, 09:35 PM
Thanks Jay!

setem
3/24/2007, 09:40 PM
Thanks for the read!

This season is panning out to be a great one!

Let's get 2 out of 3 tomorrow and hope we can continue our winning ways!!!

Collier11
3/25/2007, 12:21 PM
If we started out 2-1 against A&M, that would be a great start to the season!!!

Eielson
3/25/2007, 02:09 PM
Galloway, Stoops, and Capel are my heroes.