Kansas Baseball Falls to Oklahoma, 11-9
April 9, 2005
NORMAN, Okla. – The Jayhawks rallied to plate five runs in the top of the seventh inning, but could not complete the comeback as the University of Kansas baseball team fell to Oklahoma, 11-9, on Saturday at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Okla.
The loss drops KU’s overall record this season to 23-14 and 2-6 in Big 12 action, while the Sooners improve to 19-11 and 5-3 in league play.
The Jayhawks were able to take an early advantage in the game as they plated four runs in the top of the third inning. Senior designated hitter Travis Dunlap led off the inning with his second home run of the season. Junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke added a RBI single in the inning and senior catcher Sean Richardson put the finishing touches on the frame with a two-run triple.
Freshman catcher Jackson Williams got the Sooners on the scoreboard with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the KU lead to 4-2.
Oklahoma took complete control of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Jayhawks committed three errors and the Sooners capitalized with six hits to plate eight runs in the frame.
The inning marked the most runs the Jayhawks have allowed in an inning this season. The previous mark had been seven in one inning against Stanford on Feb. 12.
The Jayhawks rallied in the top of the fifth inning to post five runs and cut the Sooner lead to 10-9. Junior outfielder Gus Milner came to the plate with two runners on and only one out and ripped a ball to center field which reached the wall. Milner was able to motor around the bases to come home with the first KU inside-the-park home run since Ryan Baty accomplished the feat on April 13, 2003, in a game against Texas Tech.
Freshman Ryne Price also chipped in during the frame with a fly ball that got up into the stiff breeze to leave the ballpark for his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot.
The Sooners added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the game to its final frame with OU leading 11-9.
In the top of the ninth, the Jayhawks could only manage one base runner, as junior pinch hitter Jared Schweitzer drew a walk.
Kansas baseball will take the field for the series finale on Sunday with a 1 p.m. scheduled first pitch. The game can be heard locally on KLWN (1320 AM).
