Fullerton, Calif. – The
University of Nevada(8-4) rallied twice from deficits to down the University
of Oklahoma(8-4) 14-10 at the Kia Baseball Bash in Fullerton, Calif. on
Sunday. With the win the Pack improved to 8-4 and 2-1 in the bash
while OU fell to 8-4 and ended the weekend 1-2.
Nevada trailed 6-0 after three innings and 10-8 heading into the top of
the ninth inning but rallied for the 14-10 victory. The Wolf Pack
scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to complete the comeback.
A total of 11 Nevada hitters came to the plate in the big inning and five
different players drove in a run.
The first five Oklahoma hitters that came up in the game scored as the
Sooners sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning
to take a 5-0 lead. Pack right fielder Shawn Scobee was injured
chasing down a double that hit off the wall and had to leave the game.
OU added an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning to increase
their lead to 6-0. Two throwing errors on Pack left fielder Ryan
Sharman put the runner in scoring position and Sooner first baseman Freddy
Rodriguez delivered the RBI single.
The Pack made it a one run game scoring five runs in the top of the fourth
inning to make the score 6-5. Catcher Baker Krukow drove in two
of the runs with a single to right field and the third run scored when
the ball got by the Sooner right fielder on the single. Designated
hitter Derek McNeil was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to force
home another run and Brett Hayes’ fielders choice plated the fifth
run in the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning OU added a single run to make it a two-run
game at 7-5. Sooner second baseman Russell Raley reached on a fielders
choice on a hard hit ground ball to short that scored left fielder Joe
Dunigan who reached on a walk. Pack shortstop Robert Marcial took
the ball off his chest but was only able to get the lead runner at second
base as Dunigan scored.
A three spot in the top of the seventh inning put Nevada in front for
the first time in the game. McNeil and Hayes started the inning
by drawing walks and both scored on center fielder Jacob Butler’s
double down the left field line. Following a pitching change Butler
moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on third baseman Matt Bowman’s
swinging bunt. Bowman was thrown out a first base but Butler beat
the relay throw to the plate to score the go ahead run and the Pack led
8-7.
OU went back in front scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the
eighth inning as the Pack committed two errors. The Pack exploded
in the top of the ninth to take the victory 14-10.
Steve Taylor(1-0) got the win allowing four runs, just one earned in his
five innings on the mound. Chris Scott pitched a scoreless ninth.
OU reliever Daniel McCutcheon(0-1) did not retire a batter in the ninth
inning and allowed all six runs but just one was earned to suffer his
first loss of the season.
Krukow(3-for-5,R,3RBI) led the offensive attack with three hits and three
RBI for Nevada. Hayes(2-for-4,R,2RBI), Butler(2-for-5,3R,3RBI),
and first baseman Ben Mummy(2-for-6,2R) added two hits each. Krukow
and Butler drove in three runs apiece. Mummy extended his hit streak
to 11 games.
The Pack host Saint Mary’s College next weekend when the Gaels come
to Peccole Park for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday’s games get underway at 1:00 p.m.
