For the record: Oklahoma fell to 44-21 with Saturday’s 10-4 loss to Rice in Game 1 of the best-of-three NCAA Tournament Super Regional at Reckling Park. The Owls improved to 54-10.
Inside the game: The Sooners have had a penchant for coming from behind and winning, but the way they started Saturday made it impossible. OU starter Steven Guerra gave up four runs before getting an out.
As starts go, Saturday’s couldn’t have been worse.
The deficit took away any chance of OU applying pressure with bunts, stolen bases or hit-and-runs. Those kinds of things helped OU become one of the best offensive teams in the Big 12. Without them, the Sooners looked pretty average when they needed to be at their best.
Notes of note: Guerra was yanked after 12/3 innings. It was his second shortest outing of the season. He lasted just 11/3 against Texas Tech April 22 … Rice starter Eddie Degerman struck out eight to establish a Conference USA single-season strike out record with 158 … Rice is 24-0 when scoring in the first inning … The first two hitters in the Owls’ lineup, Tyler Henley and Greg Buchanan, went a combined 6-for-9 and scored four runs. OU’s first two hitters, Chuckie Caufield and Russell Raley, went 1-for-9 and scored one run … The Sooners are now 65-56 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Owls are 45-24.
On deck: The teams return to Reckling Park at noon today for Game 2. OU will send Daniel McCutchen (9-8, 4.00 ERA) to the mound. Rice will counter with Bobby Bell (8-0, 3.67 ERA). The Sooners must win or their season is over.
— John Shinn
