HOUSTON — The last thing most coaches want to talk about after losing is the past. They don’t want their teams thinking there’s no future.
But OU coach Sunny Golloway went back in time Saturday night after the Sooners dropped Game 1 of their NCAA Tournament Super Regional series to Rice.
Before OU walked off the bus back at their hotel, he reminded them of what they’d accomplished. He told them how they’d rallied from series-opening losses all season and won four straight elimination games to claim last week’s Norman Regional.
“We’ve faced adversity. We’ve stared it right in the face and come up big,” he said.
OU did it again Sunday in the fourth inning of its 11-5 victory over the Owls at Reckling Park.
The Sooners already trailed 2-1 after pitcher Daniel McCutchen gave up a pair of solo home runs to Joe Savery and Kenny Ford in the second and third frames.
But he appeared to have gotten out of a jam in the fourth when he got Ford to pop to shallow center field with runners at second and third with two outs.
It looked like the third out to everyone but Sooner center fielder Joseph Hughes, who lost the ball in the sun. By the time he found it, Aaron Luna and Adam Zornes had motored home.
The frustration was apparent. Tyler Henley followed with another double and the Owls had a 5-1 lead before OU could get back to the dugout.
“It was a ball Joseph Hughes catches all the time,” McCutchen said. “He just lost it in the sun. I came off the mound thinking it happened for a reason. Maybe it will fire up our offense.”
The 4,120 at Reckling Park were certainly fired up. OU’s start looked like it might lead to an early finish to the series.
The Sooners are the best fielding team in college baseball, but one mistake led to a four-run deficit. Rice, which entered the game with the nation’s best record, didn’t need all the breaks going its way, too.
“We were teetering a bit right there, but our guys had been there before,” Golloway said. “Until you’ve really played those elimination games, it’s tough.”
OU showed its mettle in the bottom half.
Freddy Rodriguez singled and scored on Rice right fielder Jordan Dodson’s throwing error on Kody Kaiser’s single.
After Aaron Reza was hit a by a pitch, Jackson Williams and Chuckie Caufield followed with RBI singles. Ryan Rohlinger added a sacrifice fly.
The Sooners started the at-bat down in the dumps, but jogged back out for the top of the fifth inning with a 6-5 lead and a new enthusiasm.
Rice never recovered.
“As a team we rely a lot on catching and pitching,” Savery, the Owls’ first baseman, said. “With a (four)-run lead you’ve got to feel confident, given the way we’ve played this year. But it was just one of those days.”
It was for Rice. For OU, it was just one more day to overcome adversity.
OU Sports
Sooners thrive under adversity
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