May 19, 2012

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma's Hunter Lockwood hit two home runs and drove in three runs to lead the Sooner baseball team to a 13-3 win over Samford in the regular-season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

Samford was led in the game by Saxon Butler, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI. The home run was Butler's 14th of the season and his third of the series. Lex Rutledge (1-4) pitched 3.0 innings, giving up six runs, just three earned, on five hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs.

Behind Lockwood for Oklahoma, Max White went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Evan Mistich went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Caleb Bushyhead was 2-for-5 for the Sooners. Damien Magnifico (3-1) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up two unearned runs on five hits to earn the win. Drew Harrison tossed the final 3.0 innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Erik Ross led the inning off with a double down the left-field line. Ross then moved to third base when Cody Reine reached base on a Samford error. White then singled to drive in Ross for the game's first run. Reine then scored when Mistich grounded into a double play for a 2-0 Sooner lead.

The Sooners added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning to push their lead to 6-0. With two outs in the inning, Reine walked. White then singled, moving Reine to third base. Mistich then singled to drive in Reine for the first run of the inning. Jack Mayfield then singled to drive in White. Mistich and Mayfield then scored when Caleb Bushyhead reached base on a Samford error for a six-run Oklahoma lead.

Samford got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Tommy Corbin doubled down the left-field line to lead off the inning. After Tyler Filliben reached base on an Oklahoma error, Corbin advanced to third base when Zeth Stone grounded into a double play. Corbin scored on a double by Butler to make the score 6-1.

Oklahoma plated two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to push its lead to 8-1. White and Mistich drove in a run each in the inning for the Sooners.

Samford came back with a run in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 8-2. Brandon Miller singled to lead off the inning. Miller later scored on an Oklahoma error for Samford's second run of the game.

The Sooners added three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 11-2. Lockwood hit a two-run homer with Bushyhead on base for the first two runs of the inning. Garrett Carey, who reached base on a walk, scored the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Reine for a nine-run Sooner lead.

Samford plated its final run in the top of the eighth inning. Butler led the inning off with a solo home run to right field to make the score 11-3.

Oklahoma plated two final runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the score 13-3. Lockwood hit a solo home run, his second homer of the game, for the first run of the inning. Chase Simpson later singled to drive in Drake Roberts for the game's final run.

With the loss, Samford falls to 35-21. The Bulldogs finish with the most regular-season wins in program history. Oklahoma improves to 35-21 with the win.

The Bulldogs will return to action in the Southern Conference Tournament, which begins Wednesday in Greenville, S.C. The pairings for the SoCon Tournament will be announced later this weekend.