Crimson And Cream Machine - Open Thread | Oklahoma Sooners Baseball Hosts The Kansas Jayhawks A Site For Sooner Fans By Sooner Fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48625/crimsonandcream_fave.png2015-04-04T20:30:07-05:00http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/rss/stream/81028242015-04-04T20:30:07-05:002015-04-04T20:30:07-05:00Sooners Walk Off With Sweep Of Jayhawks
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<p>It isn't pressure that defines a person or a team but rather how they handle the said pressure is what people will talk about. Oklahoma hasn't swept a conference opponent in over two years and heading into game three against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rockchalktalk.com/">Kansas Jayhawks</a> on Saturday afternoon they were primed to do just that. It sure wasn't going to come easy though as Kansas pressured OU's bullpen with a barrage of late inning runs.</p>
<p>Oklahoma held a 4-1 lead through the first three innings and seemed to be in control with a 6-2 lead after the sixth. That's when things began to get a bit shaky as the Jayhawks pelted OU's relievers for five runs over the seventh and eighth innings. Finding themselves in a familiar situation, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/">Sooners</a> were trailing Kansas heading to the bottom of the ninth with the Jayhawks putting Stephen Villines on the mound to close it out. Oklahoma was able to rally against Villines, one of the Big 12's best closers, on Thursday night for an extra innings win and now faced the challenge of doing it once more.</p>
<p>Kolbey Carpenter came through in the clutch once again with a ninth inning single to right field, scoring Hunter Haley, to tie the game at 7-7 and send it to extras. Sheldon Neuse took the mound in the top of the ninth, stepping away from his usual short stop position, to get the final out and then stayed on to pitch the tenth. In his 1.1 innings of work he allowed just one hit and struck out three batters to pick up his first win of the season.</p>
<p>It was Taylor Alspaugh who provided Oklahoma's final hit in the series with a walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth to score Josh Ake and give the Sooners a series sweep with an 8-7 win. It didn't come easy for OU but two extra inning walk-offs set up by late inning rallies aided them to the first sweep of a conference opponent in the Pete Hughes era.</p>
https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2015/4/4/8346055/oklahoma-sooners-baseball-walks-off-with-series-sweep-of-kansas-inM. Hofeld2015-04-04T00:37:35-05:002015-04-04T00:37:35-05:00Game Day Gallery | Kansas at Oklahoma Baseball
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<figcaption>Rich DeCray</figcaption>
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https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2015/4/4/8343741/ncaa-baseball-game-day-gallery-kansas-jayhawks-at-oklahoma-soonersRich DeCray2015-04-04T00:02:19-05:002015-04-04T00:02:19-05:00Notes & Quotes | Sooners Sound Off On 6-3 Win
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<p>Oklahoma won the second game against Kansas by a final score of 6-3 on Friday night to secure their second series win in conference play. After the game we were able to catch up to Anthony Hermelyn (2-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI), Kolbey Carpenter (3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) Coach Hughes, and winning pitcher Alec Hansen (6 IP, 2 R, 5 W, 9 SO).</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Use the media player to listen to Oklahoma's post game interviews</b></i></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Notables</b></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">* Sheldon Neuse drove in his 30th run of the season in the first inning. He currently leads the Big 12 in runs batted in.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">* Oklahoma's pitchers struck out 11 Kansas batters to mark the 19th time this season that the Sooner staff has KO'd 10 or more batters in a game.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">* Anthony Hermelyn was 2-for-2 from the plate, producing his 15th multi-hit game of the season. He leads the team in that category.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">* The number 9 is a fun number for Chris Shaw right now. He knocked his 9th double of the season on Friday night and also drew his 9th hit by pitch. Both of those are team highs.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">* The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/">Sooners</a> featured their 23rd different lineup of the season.</p>
https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2015/4/4/8343683/oklahoma-sooners-baseball-notes-and-quotes-sooners-talk-6-3-win-overM. Hofeld2015-04-03T21:15:53-05:002015-04-03T21:15:53-05:00Sooners Take Series | Focused Now On Sweep
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<p>It was clear on Friday night that Oklahoma's north wind wasn't going to be anyone's friend as the Sooners and Jayhawks played the second game of their series. Every hit would stay in the park and many promising at bats died out mid-flight as they blew back down well shy of the outfield wall. While Oklahoma's Alec Hansen had enough velocity to keep Kansas at bay, OU struck for three runs in the bottom of the first, thanks in part to a two-RBI double by junior Alex Wise.</p>
<p>A pair of walks, an RBI single, and a passed ball helped Kansas get two back in the top of the second and the Sooners went down in order to keep things tight heading into the third but two strike outs from Alec Hansen and a tag out at first put a goose egg back up on the board for the Jahawks in the top of the third but, despite putting runners on the corners, OU couldn't put any further distance between them and Kansas.</p>
<p>Both teams would swap walks, hits, and outs until the bottom of the seventh when Oklahoma plated two more runs. Josh Ake led off the inning with a walk and was followed up by a Kolby Carpenter single. Both players would come home during the inning off the bats of Craig Aikin and Anthony Hermelyn to extend Oklahoma's lead to 5-2.</p>
<p>The Sooners added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with Carpenter knocking in Chris Shaw. "I feel good getting out there and being in the leadoff spot," Carpenter, who leads the team with six home runs, said following the game. "We had a big win last night and then to come out tonight, play well, and get the series win was really big of us."</p>
<p>Sophomore Alec Hansen picked up his fourth win of the season by going six innings, allowing just two runs while fanning nine batters but also giving up five walks. "I was a little frustrated with myself," he said after the game. "You know, five walks but I put our team in a position to win and I'm glad that we got the win."</p>
<p>Now the team turns their focus fully on sweeping the Jayhawks in this series. "Tomorrow is really important," Hansen added. "Especially since we lost two out of three to Baylor last weekend. We can make up lost ground." Friday's win pushed Oklahoma to 21-12 on the year and 5-3 in conference play. A sweep would put them at 6-3 which is a world of difference from the 5-4 mark a loss would bring. In addition, Oklahoma's next two Big 12 series are on the road. "We lost ground last week," Oklahoma head coach Pete Hughes said, "and then we're going on a road stretch here. You'd better take advantage of playing at home and finishing the job."</p>
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<p>There's another reason for Oklahoma to knuckle down against Kansas and get the job done on Saturday. "I can't remember the last time we got a sweep in conference," Hughes added. "Not on my watch, so it's a big day for us tomorrow."</p>
https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2015/4/3/8343413/sooners-take-game-two-and-series-from-jayhawks-6-3-now-focused-onM. Hofeld2015-04-02T23:21:32-05:002015-04-02T23:21:32-05:00Pitcher Jacob Evans Has Monster Night In 7-6 Win
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<p>Just about every sport can be compared to a game of chess at times. Head coaches strategically place their players in a position that gives them an advantage over their opponent and then holds on while the opposing coach makes a counter move. On Thursday night Pete Hughes worked the game like a master.</p>
<p>Kansas pitcher Ben Krauth was gunning for his sixth consecutive win of the season and was masterful as he mowed down Oklahoma's batters through 7.2 innings. It all but looked like a done deal when the Big 12's top closer, Stephen Villines, took the mound in the eighth with the Jayhawks in command at 5-2. Villines quickly ended the inning and when Kansas added an insurance run in the top of the ninth it appeared to be the final nail in Oklahoma's coffin.</p>
<p>To borrow a baseball pun, that's when Pete Hughes threw a curve ball. Oklahoma's skipper decided to go to his bench with three pinch hitters to start off the ninth. They all three got on base and what happened next will be categorized in the lore of Sooner Magic.</p>
<p>The first batter to approach the plate for OU in the ninth was pitcher Jacob Evans. The junior lefty is know for his 3-0 record, a 2.14 ERA, and 26 batters he's struck out this season. However, after Thursday night people are going to start noticing his .571 batting average. Evans led off the ninth with a single and then Oklahoma loaded the bases as all three of the pinch hitters Coach Hughes sent to the plate reached base on singles, including Robert Tasin who is also a pitcher. A fourth consecutive single came by way of Kolbey Carpenter and was followed by a Taylor Alspaugh sacrifice and a Craig Aikin double. Oklahoma rallied to score four runs in the bottom of the ninth and send the game to an extra inning.</p>
<p>Having started the rally in the bottom of the ninth, Evans then went to the mound for the top of the tenth and sat the Jayhawks down in order. Oklahoma was one batter shy of hitting through their lineup in the ninth inning and that one guy was Jacob Evans. Not only would he be Oklahoma's first batter of the extra frame, he'd also be their last as he lifted a 3-2 offering from Villines over the right-center field wall for a walk-off home run. Not only did Evans get credit for the walk-off, he was also the winning pitcher and improved his season record to 4-0.</p>
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<p>The 7-6 win was Oklahoma's 20th of the season and more importantly marked the first time that they've won the opener of a conference series. They'll try to go for the series win on Friday evening as Alec Hansen takes the mound and then Evans is slated to be Saturday's game three starter.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Oklahoma's <a href="https://twitter.com/Jacob_Evans1011">@Jacob_Evans1011</a> was given a Gatorade bath as he started his TV interview. Kids are having fun. <a href="https://t.co/zGDaFFC4WP">https://t.co/zGDaFFC4WP</a></p>— CC Machine (@CCMachine) <a href="https://twitter.com/CCMachine/status/583813566270152704">April 3, 2015</a>
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https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2015/4/2/8338817/oklahoma-sooners-baseball-jacob-evans-does-it-all-in-extra-inning-win-kansas-jayhawksM. Hofeld2015-04-02T17:54:56-05:002015-04-02T17:54:56-05:00OU Baseball Preview | Kansas Jayhawks
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<figcaption>Rich DeCray - SBN</figcaption>
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<p>The baseball weekend gets started a bit early this week with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rockchalktalk.com/">Kansas Jayhawks</a> visiting Norman for a series that begins tonight. You hate to put pressure on a team but it is absolutely imperative that Oklahoma comes away with a sweep. Sure, just getting a series victory is great but a sweep is actually what is needed. It would by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/">Sooners</a> at 6-3 in conference play and move them away from the danger of being at or below .500 in conference play.</p>
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<th colspan="4">Weekend Pitching Match-Ups</th>
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<td><strong>Kansas</strong></td>
<td><strong>Oklahoma</strong></td>
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<td>LHP-Ben Krauth<br><em>5-2, 5.44, 38 Ks</em>
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<td>RHP-Jake Elliott<br><em>3-3, 2.76, 47 Ks</em>
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<td>LHP-Blake Weiman<br><em>0-4, 8.68, 10</em>
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<td>RHP-Alec Hansen<br><em>3-3, 3.27, 55</em>
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<td>RHP-Drew Morovick<br><em>2-3, 4.89, 13</em>
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<td>RHP-Robert Tasin<br><em>5-1, 1.44, 30</em>
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<p>The Sooners are 19-12 on the season (3-3 in conference play) and are led from the plate by Craig Aikin who is one of five batters hitting above .300 on the year. His .357 average is a team-high and he's also scored 29 runs on the season to lead OU. Sophomore Sheldon Neuse (.308) has knocked in a team best 28 RBI and Kolbey Carpenter is pacing the Sooners with six home runs on the season.</p>
<p>Oklahoma's pitchers have struck out a Big 12 best 287 batters with 55 of those belong to Friday Starter Alec Hansen. Carey Copping (2.14 ERA) has been sidelined due to an emergency appendectomy and won't be available to the team for the second weekend in a row.</p>
<p>The Jayhawks arrive with an 11-17 (1-2 in conference play) record and are led by Connor McKay who has crossed home plate 19 times and has reached base 40 times with a hit. Blair Beck is sporting a slugging percentage of .584 and has gone yard five times this season.</p>
<p>We'll be updating this thread throughout the weekend so be sure to check in and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.</p>
https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2015/4/2/8337771/oklahoma-sooners-baseball-hosts-the-kansas-jayhawksM. Hofeld