OU's Nine-Game Win Streak Ends at Baylor

May 19, 2011

Baylor 4, Oklahoma 2
Box Score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
OU	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	0
BU	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	X	4	12	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	E	BB	SO
W - Verrett (6-4)	8.0	4	2	0	3	8
L - Rocha (10-3)	4.2	8	4	4	2	6
S - Garner (7)	1.0	0	0	0	1	1

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Bushyhead	3	0	2	0	1	0
BU - Miller	4	1	3	1	0	1

Notes
OU has held the opposition to five or less runs in 16 of the last 17 games ... Cody Reine made his 32nd start of the season on Thursday, but just his second in OU's last 20 games (other start was on April 29) ... Michael Rocha has lasted at least seven innings in 11 of his 14 starts with five or more strikeouts in 11 outings ... Cameron Seitzer has reached base safely in 12 straight games for the second time this season ... The Bears won their first series opener over OU since 2007 ... The Sooners had won four straight regular season games against Baylor.

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WACO, Texas -- The nine-game winning streak ended for the No. 7 Sooners on Thursday as Baylor claimed a 4-2 victory in the series opener at Baylor Ballpark.

The loss dropped Oklahoma to 39-14 overall and 13-10 in Big 12 play while the Bears improved to 28-23 and 12-13.

Baylor jumped out to an early 3-2 lead and handed the Sooners' Michael Rocha (10-3) just his third loss of the year after just 4 2/3 innings.

"We weren't ourselves. We weren't that sharp on the mound," said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway. "That clearly wasn't not the sharpest game he (Rocha) has had, probably in a long time if not all year. I know he will bounce back and have a lot more fire next time."

The Bears' Joey Hainsfurther two-out RBI single scored Brooks Pinckard in the first inning, but Max Muncy was thrown out at the plate to hold Baylor to one run in the frame.

The Sooners battled back to take their first lead in the top of the second and Casey Johnson's fly ball to left-center field was dropped by BU left fielder Dan Evatt. That miscue paved the way for Cody Reine's fourth home run of the season and his second in the last four games, despite making his first start since April 29. Reine's two-run blast to right-center field gave the Sooners a 2-1 lead during his first start

The Bears' Jake Miller homered on the ninth pitch to lead off the second inning and tie the game at two runs apiece and added a two-out double to claim a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Baylor added to its 3-2 lead with another two-out RBI. The fourth and final run ended Rocha's start despite recording six strikeouts after 4 2/3 innings, tying his shortest start of the year with the April 15 outing versus Oklahoma State.

Rocha's counterpart, Logan Verrett, was impressive with eight strikeouts in eight innings. Both of the Sooners' runs allowed by Verrett were unearned as he improved to 6-4 with 21 straight innings without giving up an earned run.

"Verrett was outstanding and we didn't match it on the mound," added Golloway. "On offense, we didn't have the same fight from the last nine games."

Caleb Bushyhead had two of the Sooners' four hits on the evening while Tyler Ogle had a hit and two walks.

The Sooner bullpen tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings as Anthony Collazo and Tyson Seng both blanked the Bears and kept the game within striking distance with 1 2/3 innings each of solid relief.

Game two in the series is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Sooner Sports Network. KREF 1400 AM will carry the OU softball NCAA Regional opener against Iona at 7 p.m.

"We have to bounce back," added Golloway. "This is just one game and we still have the opportunity to win a series in front of us."