The No. 17 baseball team extended its winning streak to three games in dramatic fashion as the Sooners defeated the University of South Florida Bulls 5-4 Tuesday in the opening game of the Sooner Classic.

OU (8-1) rallied back from a 4-2 deficit by scoring one run in the eighth and two runs in the ninth.

Senior Kaleb Herren opened the eighth inning with a pinch-hit home run to left field to start the rally, and freshman Chad Kettler and sophomore Caleb Bushyhead drove in the game-tying and game-winning runs with two outs in the bottom half of the ninth.

Kettler produced with a pinch-hit single to bring in junior right fielder Rick Eisenberg and advanced sophomore third baseman Garrett Buechele, the at-time winning run, 90 feet away from home.

Bushyhead came to the plate with the bases loaded after a stolen base and a hit by pitch, and he jumped on the second pitch of the at-bat to single to right field and bring home Buechele.

Rocha received a no decision after working six innings while giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and striking out five batters.

Erben earned his third victory of the season by throwing scoreless eighth and ninth innings. He struck out three batters and only allowed two batters to reach base with a hit.

Erben has not allowed a run to score and has given up just three hits during his last three outings that have spanned 7 2/3 innings.

The Sooners continue the Sooner Classic against the Western Illinois Leathernecks at 3 p.m. Friday at L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park. OU swept the Leathernecks in a four-game set last season, and holds an 18-1 series lead with all 18 victories coming in Norman.