Feb. 27, 2009

Washington State 9, OU 2 | Box Score   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E  OU 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 6 0  WSU 0 0 0 0 2 0 7 0 X 9 9 1  Pitching IP H R ER BB SO  W - Johnson (1-0) 2.0 1 0 0 0 4  L - Doyle (1-1)   7.0 7 3 3 2 5  Batting Leaders AB R H RBI BB HR  OU -  Ogle 3 0 1 1 0 0  WSU - Jones   4 1 3 3 1 0 Sooner Baseball Central Main Page | Ticket Information | Webcasts 2009 OU Baseball Media Guide | 2009 Game Notes Oklahoma Season Statistics | Big 12 Conference | NCAA

PULLMAN, Wash. -- The University of Oklahoma baseball team fell 9-2 in the series opener at Washington State with temperatures in the 30s at Bailey-Brayton Field on Friday.  The Cougars became the first opponent to out hit the No. 16 Sooners with a 9-6 advantage.

The loss was the second straight for the Sooners (5-2) while the Cougars improved to 1-3. 

Despite taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Sooners lost control of the game as the Cougars scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

Andrew Doyle (1-1) took the loss after allowing the first three runs in seven innings of work.  Doyle walked the first batter of the  decisive inning before leaving the game.  Chase Anderson and Trey Sperring followed out of the OU bullpen and surrendered six runs off two hits, four walks and a hit batter.

“It was a good ball game until the eighth when we let things get away and they opened up the game,” said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway.  “Andrew (Doyle) threw a good game but our bullpen wasn’t sharp and that is clearly something we need to improve on. 

“We knew the game was going to be won in the bullpen and you have to tip your cap to Washington State’s pitchers.  Especially Matt Way.  He is a quality left-handed arm in the Pac 10.”

Way finished the game with two runs allowed, one earned, in six innings of work off five hits and three walks.  The southpaw also struck out seven Sooners.  Jeremy Johnson (1-0) earned the win in relief with a career-high four strikeouts in two innings of work.

The Sooners wasted no time in taking in early lead on Way.  Jamie Johnson led off the game with a base hit and advanced to second on an error by WSU’s left fielder.  He later came around to score on Tyler Ogle’s 11th RBI of the season.
Washington State rallied in its at-bat in the fifth inning and took the lead with a pair of RBI singles by Matt Argyropoulos and Derek Jones.

The Cougars’ lead was short lived as Bryant Hernandez ripped a triple to right field to begin the top of the sixth and extend his hitting streak to eight games.  The Sooners were unable to bring in the run with a hit but got some help from WSU starter Matt Way, who threw a wild pitch in the dirt to even the game at two runs apiece.

Derek Jones  proved to be the difference offensively for Washington State.  He finished with a game-high three hits and joined Matt Argyropoulos with three RBIs apiece.

Washington State leads the all-time series, 7-2.  Friday’s game was the first meeting in Pullman as the last six meetings were played in Norman.

The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday that begins at 2 p.m. CT.  Game two on Saturday will be broadcast live on KOKC 1520 AM.