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Oklahoma Survives NCAA Elimination With Extra-Inning Win Over Army, 2-1
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Oklahoma Survives NCAA Elimination With Extra-Inning Win Over Army, 2-1
Max White drives in Caleb Bushyhead in the top of the 10th for the difference maker
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Oklahoma Sooners (39-23) never held a lead over their first 18 innings of the Charlottesville NCAA Regional, but they manufactured a run in the top of the 10th inning to take home the 2-1 win over the Army Black Knights (41-15), in front of 2,854 fans on Sunday morning, inside Davenport Field.
Oklahoma scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning. Caleb Bushyhead led things off with a single to right-center field. Tanner Toal completed the sacrifice bunt to advance Bushyhead to second base. The Sooners completed the manufactured score when Max White singled to center field to score Bushyhead, giving Oklahoma the 2-1 lead.
Steven Okert tossed the final three innings and besides a throwing error in the bottom of the 10th inning by Jack Mayfield, he was shut the door on the Black Knights to pick up the win. Okert moves to 9-7 on the season.
After pitching and defense kept the game scoreless through 4.5 innings, Army was able to produce the first run of the game in the home half of the fifth inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Harold Earls led off the frame singling to right center field. After Cody Murtle was out when his bunt attempt with two strikes landed foul, Earls advanced to second when Matthew Carter’s sacrifice bunt was successful. Oklahoma starting pitcher Jonathan Gray then hit Alex Jensen to put runners on first and second with two outs. Zach Price then singled to center field to score Earls and after the throw to the plate was late, Oklahoma catcher Toal nailed Jensen at third trying to advance, halting the Army threat.
The Sooners bounced right back next time up, tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning. Max White led the inning off with a walk. Erik Ross registered the successful sacrifice to move White to second base. Army’s starting pitcher Logan Lee proceeded to balk White over to third and the Oklahoma centerfielder came home to score when Evan Mistich grounded out to the second base. After walking Matt Oberste, Lee induced Cody Reine to fly out to right field to end the rally.
The game remained scoreless until Oklahoma’s rally in the 10th inning. Gunnar Carroll picked up the loss for Army, finishing his season with a 2-1 record.
Oklahoma had managed just five hits (all singles) over its first 18 innings of baseball in Charlottesville, but managed two hits in extra innings. Bushyhead led the Sooners with two hits.
Oklahoma moves on to play at 7 p.m. on Sunday against the loser of the winner’s bracket contest between Virginia and Appalachian State at 3 p.m. Army is eliminated and finishes its season with a school record 41 wins.