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Box Score 2 NORMAN, Okla.-For the second time in as many games, an early Bakersfield lead wouldn't hold and a big seventh inning would lift Oklahoma to a 17-7 win in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at L Dale Mitchell Park.
Bakersfield built an early lead beginning in the top of the first following a leadoff single and two walks by starter Adam Choplick who walked in the first run of the game as well. CSUB however couldn't score striking out twice and grounding out to end the inning with the bases loaded.
Bakersfield added three more runs in the third inning following a leadoff walk by Mylz Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) and RBI singles from Allen Gwynn (R-Sr., Santa Paula, Calif., Ventura CC), Chance Gusbeth (So., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) and Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS). Garret Pierce (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) also had an infield groundout that scored a run as well for CSUB who sent nine hitters to the plate in the frame.
The Roadrunners chased Oklahoma starter Choplick after just 2.2 innings, he faced 17 hitters during that time allowing four runs on five hits while walking three.
Oklahoma grabbed two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the second coming with two outs when a wild pitch from James Barragan put Mac James in scoring position where Hector Lorenzana then brought him in with an RBI single.
Oklahoma would add another run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Mac James to tie the game at 4-4.
For the second straight game the 7th inning proved to be the 'Runners' demise as the Sooners led off the inning with a triple off starting pitcher James Barragan (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) then another triple off reliever Garrett Nimmo (Fr., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) to take the lead for good.
Then the flood gates open as the Sooners would score 10 runs in the inning including a pair of three-run homeruns as they also recorded eight hits to take a 14-4 lead. Sheldon Neuse had one of those three-run homeruns and would add another in the top of the 8th inning off reliever Nick Dermenjian (Jr., Fair Oaks, Calif., American River CC). Neuse was 3-for-6 in the game with eight runs batted in.
Barragan took the loss for CSUB falling to 2-4 on the season. Reliever Kindle Ladd recorded the win for Oklahoma, his second of the season.
SECOND GAME
In the second game, the Sooners scored first for the first time in the series when they put two on the board in the fourth inning on a pair of RBI singles.
That lead would hold for two innings until Jones took advantage of a Jordie Hein (Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) leadoff single in the 6th by hitting a two-run homerun to left field to tie the game 2-2. Another solo homerun by Carter in the top of the seventh inning gave the Roadrunners their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Bakersfield managed to hold off a two-out threat by the Sooners in the bottom of the seventh after starter Austin Davis struck out the last two batters of the inning. In the eighth however the Sooners tied the game following a pair of walks with one out. Anthony Hermelyn then hit a ground ball to Gwynn at third base who dropped the ball prior to making a throw and was charged with the error. Neuse then tied the game with an RBI single before starter Austin Davis (R-So., Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS) was replaced with Nick Rogowski (Jr., Woodbridge, Va., Cypress College) and the Sooners took the lead for good on a sacrifice fly RBI by Mac James with one out in the inning.
Davis who pitched 7.1 innings was charged with the loss giving up four runs, three of them earned while striking out four as he fell to 1-6 on the season. Oklahoma reliever Robert Tasin recorded the victory, his third of the season.
The Roadrunners return to Western Athletic Conference play next weekend hosting Chicago State at Hardt Field; Friday and Saturday at 6 P.M. and Sunday at 1 P.M.
