The long ball was working for Oklahoma on Saturday and they took full advantage of it. Heading into game four of their series with BYU, the Sooners had a 2-1 lead in games and were just one win away from taking a series that was moved to Las Vegas because of winter weather in Oklahoma.
Seizing the moment, OU rocked BYU starter Maverick Buffalo for three runs in the first inning thanks to a pair of back-to-back home runs by Sheldon Neuse and Anthony Hermelyn. A one-out walk by Taylor Alspaugh allowed Neuse's shot over the right field wall to be a two-run blast. Oklahoma tacked on another run in the fourth when a single by Kyle Mendenhall brought Craig Aikin home.
The final pieces of Oklahoma's explosive offensive puzzle came in the eighth when a two-run homer by Hunter Haley scored both himself and Hermelyn and then three batters later Chris Shaw sent a solo shot over the left field wall. In all the Sooners scored seven runs off nine hits to take the final game, and the series from BYU, by a final of 7-1.
@HuntHaley4 with the bomb! @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/DZPFjnHnqF
— anthony hermelyn (@anthonyhermelyn) February 28, 2015
In a series where each of the first three games were decided by a single run, Saturday's blowout was a welcome change of pace. Starter Adam Choplick earned his first win of the season by going six strong innings and keeping the Cougars off the board until the sixth when Court Iorg scored their lone run on a passed ball. Choplick's final stat line read 1 run, 4 hits, and 7 KO's. Four Sooner relievers came in to close out the game for Oklahoma, including Thomas Mcllraith who fanned three BYU batters in two innings.
Oklahoma returns home to Norman to play against Arkansas Little Rock on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Notables
* Oklahoma's four home runs was the most they've hit in a game since they recorded six against Kansas State in 2010.
* The Sooners also turned four double plays in the game which is a season-high.
* Craig Aikin's new hitting streak is now up to eight games. He went 1-for-4 on the day.
* Sticking with the number four, Saturday was the fourth time this season that Oklahoma has held their opponent to just one run.