Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma
Sooners Topple Cowboys In Big 12 Tourney Opener, 9-8
May 17, 2000 | Cowboy Baseball
May 17, 2000
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Oklahoma built a four-run lead and held on to defeat Oklahoma State 9-8 in the opening game of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday before 10,100 fans at the Bricktown Ballpark.
The Sooners, who improved to 38-19 overall, jumped on the Cowboys early, scoring two runs in the first inning off lefthander Matt Smith. The loss dropped OSU to 36-21 on the season.
Tommy Whiteman drove home OU's first run with a RBI triple and later scored on a Rick Park groundout. The Sooners built the lead to 3-0 in the second when Zach Lekse singled home Jeremy Vidales.
OU tacked on a run in the third before the Cowboys answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning. OSU's Luke Scott, who finished 2-for-3, doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Sooner error.
The Sooners extended the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth before the Cowboys erupted for four runs in top of the sixth to cut the lead to one. Rightfielder Jimbo McAuliff led the charge, driving in two runs on a double to leftfield.
In the bottom of the inning, OU's Jeff Bajenaru hit a two-run homer off Cowboy reliever Clint Salisbury to push the Sooner lead to three.
The Cowboys climbed back within a run in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs off three consecutive doubles by Ryan Budde, Darren Heal and Rob Watson. Oklahoma manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning off a Josh Witcher single.
The Pokes closed out the contest's scoring in the top of the ninth. After Budde reached on a three-base error by OU's Eliot Joyner, he later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Watson to pull OSU within a run. However, Bajenaru closed the door to pick up his 19th save of the season.
The Cowboys will return to action on Thursday at 10 a.m.
| Oklahoma State | 000 | 104 | 201 | - 8 | 11 | 2 | |
| Oklahoma | 211 | 022 | 10X | - 9 | 13 | 3 |
Smith, Salisbury (6), Patterson (7) and Budde, Greusel, Cherry (6), Coose (7), Bajenaru (9), Witcher and Haggard (9). W-Greusel 5-0, L-Smith 8-7. Sv. Bajenaru (19), HRs- OU: Bajenaru (11).
