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Sooners batter WVU bullpen for big comeback, 12-6

Oklahoma took the lead with a seven-run, eighth-inning outburst and defeated West Virginia 12-6 on Saturday to clinch a series victory.

 

NORMAN, Okla. — Things are going so badly for West Virginia that even a late five-run lead against the worst-hitting team in the Big 12 wasn’t safe.

Oklahoma scored 11 unanswered runs over its final three at-bats to beat the Mountaineers 12-6 on Saturday, clinching the weekend series.

The Sooners (20-19-1, 6-8 Big 12) climbed into fifth place in the league, one spot ahead of West Virginia (19-18, 5-8), which led 6-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.

“I love teams that play from behind because they don’t panic,” said Sooners coach Pete Hughes. “I worry about that, but I always tell our guys good teams know how to play when they’re up five runs or when they’re down five runs, and I think we did that today.”

Oklahoma chased WVU starter Ross Vance with a three-run sixth that trimmed the deficit to 6-4, and the momentum carried over into a seven-run eighth in which Conner Dotson (4-4) and Jeff Hardy combined to allow nine hits.

Freshman designated hitter Chris Andritsos, who threw eight shutout innings in Friday night’s opener, singled home the tying and go-ahead runs.

Oklahoma, which started the day hitting .247, collected 18 hits including 12 against the Mountaineers bullpen.

West Virginia has dropped five of its last six conference games and must avoid the sweep with a win Sunday.

While Sooners starter Jake Elliott was ineffective over 5 2/3 innings, Alex Daniel (2-0) led a bullpen effort that held WVU hitless over the final 3 1/3 innings.

A day after being shut out on three hits, the Mountaineers scored three runs in the first inning, two on a triple by Jackson Cramer.

Freshmen Darius Hill and Braden Zarbnisky both had two hits, and Kyle Davis added his fifth homer of the season.

 





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