By John Shinn
HOUSTON — Rice shoved Oklahoma into a corner in Game 1 of their NCAA Super Regional series. The Sooners shoved back in Game 2.
The Sooners blasted 16 hits and rode another powerful pitching performance from Daniel McCutchen to even the series 1-1 and force today’s deciding game.
“Our guys have faced that adversity and played through it all year,” OU coach Sunny Golloway said. “We use the adjective so much, but our toughness …”
OU (45-21) rallied from an early four-run deficit and roughed up five Rice (54-11) pitchers to win its fifth straight NCAA Tournament elimination game.
McCutchen threw a complete-game nine-hitter, striking out nine on 116 pitches. The performance came on the heels of throwing over 200 pitches in last weekend’s Norman Regional.
“I didn’t have my high velocity or power curveball today,” McCutchen said, “but I had my control and I just filled up the (strike) zone a lot.”
He allowed solo homers to Rice’s Joe Savery and Kenny Ford in the top of the second and third innings and could have lost his cool in the fourth. With two out and two on, Ford blooped a ball to center field that Joseph Hughes lost in the sun. It allowed the Owls to take a 5-1 lead.
But the Sooners got hot at the plate and McCutchen got even hotter at the mound.
Two Rice errors, RBI singles from Jackson Williams and Chuckie Caufield and a sacrifice fly from Ryan Rohlinger gave OU a 5-4 lead after four innings.
The runs gave McCutchen an emotional lift and he dominated the Owls from that point. By the time they put another runner on, the Sooners had a six-run lead.
“I came off and wasn’t the happiest guy in the world after giving up those three runs,” McCutchen said. “I knew my offense was very capable and had been able to come from behind all year. It was big for us and really gave me a boost of adrenaline.”
Rice coach Wayne Graham saw the difference.
“His location got better on his breaking stuff later in the game and he added a pretty good change up,” he said. “We were chasing it, but it was pretty good. He’s a good competitor and you expect things like that from him.”
Rohlinger went 3-for-4, drove in two runs and scored three more to lead OU’s attack.
“Our backs were to the wall today,” he said. “We looked over the cliff and knew if we didn’t get the job done today we’d be going home. We were tough. Guys refused to get out and that’s what we had to do today.”
Rohlinger and Kody Kaiser, who went 2-for-5, both connected for solo home runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend the Sooners’ lead. Jackson Williams and Hughes followed with RBI singles to put OU up 10-5
Freddy Rodriguez plated Rohlinger with a single in the eighth to close the scoring.
Bobby Bramhall (4-2) took the loss in relief. He pitched two innings and only allowed one run, but it was the go-ahead run in the fourth inning.
Bobby Bell started and allowed six hits and five runs. Will McDaniel, Kurt Pessa and Kyle Gunderson relieved.
But Rice still has plenty of pitching left for today’s finale. It will start Craig Crow (8-1, 3.08 ERA).
Golloway will go with Ryan Mottern (7-4, 7.54 ERA).
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
