Homers help Oklahoma tie series vs. Virginia
What was that annoying sound coming out of northwestern Charlottesville on Sunday afternoon? The doink of aluminum meeting cowhide — squarely.
When the NCAA Super Regional slugfest was over, Oklahoma had a 10-7 victory over Virginia, extending the series to Monday’s decisive third game. The winner will advance to the College World Series starting Saturday in Omaha.
Bidding for its second straight trip to the CWS, Virginia (51-13) was seeking a sweep and an extra day of rest. Instead, Oklahoma (48-16) extended the Super Regional with a trio of timely home runs, including two by right fielder Cody Reine.
Virginia coach Brian O’Connor now will hand the ball to Branden Kline (5-0) with hopes the freshman right-hander can reproduce his clutch work from last Monday, when he defeated St. John’s in the championship game of the regional tournament 5-3. Oklahoma has yet to name a starting pitcher.
It’s a heady assignment for Kline, a graduate of Thomas Johnson in Frederick, who moved into the rotation last month. Monday night’s start will be his eighth as a collegian.
Virginia entrusted Sunday to junior right-hander Robert Morey (9-4), a fifth-round draft choice last week of the Florida Marlins. But Morey didn’t have it. In two-plus innings, he walked three and surrendered three hits. All six men he put on base scored.
Reine, a 5-foot-9, 217-pound sophomore lefty, hit a three-run shot in the opening inning. Reine’s two-run blast in the fifth inning was his eighth home run this year and gave Oklahoma an 8-4 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Virginia junior left fielder Phil Gosselin responded with a three-run blast as the Cavaliers pulled within 8-7. But Oklahoma answered as freshman left fielder Max White hit his 15th homer of the year, a two-run shot that put the Sooners back in command 10-7.
Virginia had two on with one out in the seventh, but Oklahoma called on senior right-hander Jeremy Erben, who relieved winning pitcher Jack Mayfield (5-0) and coaxed a double-play grounder from Virginia first baseman John Hicks. In the final two innings, Erben retired six of seven Cavaliers, allowing Oklahoma to save closer Ryan Duke for Monday.
