In baseball, sometimes the breaks just don't fall your way. OU learned that lesson's cold reality once again after a 14-4 loss to No. 8 Nebraska that completed a series sweep at L. Dale Mitchell Park this weekend.

The Sooners posted 10 hits on Sunday and surrendered 12. However, only three hits produced runs.

OU baseball head coach Larry Cochell said the Sooners aren't getting the hits when they count the most.

"We didn't get a base hit when we really needed it," Cochell said. "Sometimes you need to reach down and find out what you're made of by making a good pitch or getting a base hit."

The Sooners started sophomore righthander Austin Mix. He pitched 3 and two-thirds innings, giving up seven hits and 10 earned runs.

However, Mix started despite having pneumonia.

He was rocked early in the ball game, surrendering two runs in the first and four runs in the second. Cochell pulled Mix in the middle of the third inning.

"He needs to learn to put away a home run or a base hit in his mind," Cochell said. "He needs to learn to come back and make a good pitch."

OU senior right-hander Austin Coose came in for 1 and one-third innings worth of work, giving up no hits and no runs.

Freshmen right-handed pitcher Mark Roberts came in to finish out the game for the Sooners in the fifth. He surrendered five hits and three earned runs.

The game was called due to the Big 12 conference's run rule.

OU junior Charlie Frasier said he felt that the Sooners didn't compete as well as they had done in the second game of the series.

The Sooners dropped that game 10-5.

OU outhit the Cornhuskers 13 to eight. However, Nebraska was able to post four runs in the second inning and six runs in the third to gain a lead they would not surrender.

OU junior right-hander Rocky Cherry started the second game for the Sooners, picking up the loss. He gave up four earned runs and four hits.

The Sooners nearly mounted a comeback with two runs in the fourth and two runs in the sixth, but they were unable to gain any more ground on the Cornhuskers in the later innings.

In the first game of the series Nebraska beat the Sooners 7-1 on Friday.

OU junior left-hander Michael Bradbury started the game, giving up six hits and three earned runs. He also picked up the loss after 4 and one-third innings of work.

Bradbury said he isn't disappointed with the performance of the pitching staff as of late.

"As a pitcher, I look at it as our hitters aren't getting clutch hits," Bradbury said. "That's what we're missing."

The sweep drops the Sooners to 10-22 overall and 5-10 in the Big 12.


Visit the Sooners' official Web site at www.soonersports.com.
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