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
- OU Sports
-
-
It’s a recipe for success
Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become ...
-
Tigers deny Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark....
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
It’s a recipe for success
