Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Oklahoma
Baseball Loses to No. 29 Oklahoma, 10-2
03/11/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
March 11, 2003
Norman, Okla. - Senior right-hander Austin Mix pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts to lead No. 29 Oklahoma (9-3) to a 10-2 win over Southern Illinois (6-6) earlier today at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Mix also threw a no-hitter through 2.1 innings, while striking out four of the Salukis' first seven batters.
Although Mix set the tone early for the Sooners on the hill, the potent top half of OU's lineup didn't waste any time going to work either.
Matt Arkison drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a double by Reggie Willits to open the bottom of the first. Eddie Cornejo then grounded out to short, scoring Arkison, before a two-out double by Luke Alexander knocked in Willits to give the Sooners an early 2-0 lead.
With one out in the top of the third, freshman Matt Brewer ruined Mix's no-hit bid with a single to center. Josh Markle followed with a single to right, but the Dawgs ended up leaving a pair of runners on base after Ross Kowzan hit into a fielder's choice and P.J. Finigan struck out.
With two out in the bottom of the third, OU cashed in four unearned runs on an error by shortstop Finigan. Arkison, who was waiting to come home after doubling to left and reaching third on a Cornejo double play ball, scored when Finigan fielded a tough hop off the edge of the infield grass and dropped the ball en route to throwing to first.
Alexander followed with his second straight double of the game to score Jay Yaconetti all the way from first. On the next at-bat, Matt Bose crushed a two-run homer to center, pushing the Sooners' lead to 6-0.
Saluki right-hander Ryan Welch continued to have problems in the bottom of the fourth, and as a result, OU added three more runs. Denver Kitch reached on an error by third baseman Nathan Boldt and moved to second on a stolen base. Spencer Wyman doubled home Kitch and shortly after that, Willits went yard over the center field wall to make it 9-0, in favor of the Sooners.
SIU averted the shutout in the top of the fifth when designated hitter Tyler Schooley started things off with a one-out single. A Brewer blast over the left field fence let Schooley trot home, cutting OU's lead to 9-2. For Brewer, the two-run bomb marked his first of the season.
One more run in the sixth would polish off the win for the Sooners. With two out, Arkison belted his second double of the game and scored on Willits' ensuing hit to cap off the 10-2 win.
Everything seemed to go the Sooners' way around Mix's impressive outing on the mound. To go along with a errorless defense, OU also had several offensive weapons which kept the Saluki outfield busy all day. In fact, the Sooners really worked the right field corner, where they doubled five of six times.
Willits and Arkison were each perfect at the plate on the day for OU. Willits went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, a home run, a double and two RBI, and Arkison followed going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored. Alexander also registered a pair of doubles as part of a 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI performance.
Mix, who moved to 2-0 on the season, pitched a five-hitter, while facing 32 batters. He also allowed just two runs over the nine-inning span.
Welch, on the other hand, allowed seven hits and nine runs, four of which were unearned. He also struck out one batter in 3.1 innings.
While the Sooners' top half of the lineup was on fire, so was SIU's bottom half. SIU's eight and nine hitters, Brewer and Markle, combined for four of of the Salukis' five hits. Brewer went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and one run scored, while Markle finished at 2-for-3.
SIU concludes its two-game set at nationally-ranked Oklahoma tomorrow at 3 p.m.
