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University of Oklahoma Athletics
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Sooners Drop Series Opener to Northwestern State
February 25, 2022 | Baseball
ARLINGTON, Texas – Jake Bennett was phenomenal in his start on Friday, striking out 11 batters over 6.1 shutout innings, but the Oklahoma baseball team fell 4-2 to Northwestern State in the series opener at Globe Life Field.
The Sooners (3-2) and Demons (3-1) moved their weekend series from Norman to the Texas Rangers' covered ballpark in Arlington, Texas, due to inclement winter weather in Oklahoma.
OU led 2-1 after seven innings, but a three-run eighth by Northwestern State spoiled Bennett's excellent outing.
"Jake was really good," Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson said. "We just have to separate the game. We didn't have some quality at bats when we needed to, and credit to them – they made pitches when they had to make pitches."
Bennett did not allow a hit until a single by catcher Bo Willis with two outs in the fifth inning, but followed with his ninth strikeout of the game. One batter before that base hit, left fielder Kendall Pettis laid out for a diving catch on a blooper toward the line in shallow left field.
The redshirt sophomore left-hander worked around a one-out single in the sixth by inducing a groundout and a strikeout, then started the seventh inning with his 11th punch out before he was relieved.
The Sooners took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI triple by designated hitter Blake Robertson. The team's first triple of the season plated Pettis, who reached on a walk and stole second. OU notched three stolen bases in the game.
After Northwestern State tied the game at one apiece in the top of the seventh, Oklahoma took the lead again in the bottom half on a bases-loaded walk to Pettis. Second baseman Diego Muniz, right fielder Trent Brown and pinch hitter Mason Lowe all walked to set up the run. A hard line out to first and two groundouts ended a potential rally.
The Demons took the lead in the top of the eighth on a two-run single by right fielder Broch Holmes and made it 4-2 on a fielder's choice groundout by Cameron Parikh.
Oklahoma put two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth on two-out singles by Muniz and pinch hitter Sebastian Orduno, but a strikeout ended the frame. In the ninth, Pettis and Peyton Graham both reached on a hit-by-pitch and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt; however, a strikeout and groundout ended the game.
The Sooners and Demons continue their series Saturday at Globe Life Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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