CORPUS CHRISTI - Josh Sborz permitted a run and three hits over six innings and Peter O'Brien cracked a two-run homer as Tulsa defeated Corpus Christi 3-1 Tuesday night at Whataburger Field before 5,066.
CORPUS CHRISTI - Josh Sborz permitted a run and three hits over six innings and Peter O'Brien cracked a two-run homer as Tulsa defeated Corpus Christi 3-1 Tuesday night at Whataburger Field before 5,066.
Sborz (6-7), MVP of the 2015 College World Series for national champion Virginia, walked three and logged six strikeouts during a 100-pitch, 57-strike performance.
The Drillers (29-16; 62-53) posted a first-inning marker thanks to Corpus Christi (20-24; 54-60) charity. Lead-off man Drew Jackson, who struck out, reached on a wild pitch charged to Brock Dykxhoorn. Jackson achieved second and advanced to third as Colin Walsh failed to catch the feed of third baseman Ryne Birk when Errol Robinson bounced into fielder's choice. Jackson then scored on Dykxhoorn's errant first-base pickoff attempt.
Walsh's first home run as a Hook, a 357-foot shot to right on an 85-mph slider, evened the contest.
Jackson blistered an 0-2, two-base hit off the left-center field wall to open the third, but Dykxhoorn recovered by whiffing Robinson, getting Matt Beaty on a fly to left, and Kyle Garlick's ground out.
Dykxhoorn covered five frames in 79 pitches, including 53 strikes. He gave up three hits, a walk, and struck out six.
O'Brien's eighth home run was a 361-foot blast to left off Ralph Garza (0-1) with two away in the sixth, Garlick aboard on a one-out walk.
Brian Moran inherited a bases-loaded, one-out dilemma from Layne Somsen in the Hooks' seventh, but induced a double-play grounder from Walsh. Moran went on to retire all five men he faced, setting the stage for Corey Copping, who notched his 13th save in 16 chances.
The Hooks send lefty Framber Valdez (4-3) to the mound Wednesday at 7:05 vs. Andrew Sopko (2-6). Whataburger Family Day means you can purchase a ticket at the box office and your child's ticket is free.
