Oct. 31, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- Junior Zach Neal tossed six innings of shutout baseball as the White team won 2-1 in game five of the Red/White Series on Saturday. 

Neal recorded his second win of the series following the game one victory in which he topped senior J.R. Robinson.  On Saturday, Robinson was on the losing end again, despite allowing one run off four hits in the five-inning start.

Red holds a 3-2 lead as game six and game seven are set for Monday and Wednesday, respectively, at 2 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.  All game times are subject to change.

Neal did not allow a hit until the fifth inning when Max White broke up the no-hit bid with a single through the left side.  The hit paved the way for a bases-loaded situation, but Neal battled out of threat with the second of three double plays on the afternoon.

In the sixth, Red again loaded the bases thanks to a single by Casey Johnson but Neal and the White defense again held them at bay.

White scored the game's first run when Garrett Buechele singled through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the third.  The base knock scored Danny Black, who singled earlier in the frame.

Buechele finished 2-for-3 with a RBI while Caleb Bushyhead provided the eventual go ahead RBI.

Robinson (0-2) finished with five strikeouts and was followed by Max White's three relief innings.  Offensively, Cale Ellis led the Red squad with a 2-for-3 afternoon at the plate.

Neal allowed two hits on the afternoon and Ryan Duke closed out the game in the ninth with the save.