Transcript Staff

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Oklahoma was in desperate need of a win Saturday, and for the first time in six game, it got one.

Heath Taylor, Nich Conaway and Garrett Richards held the Tigers to five hits and Sooners rolled to a 5-0 victory at Taylor Stadium.

The victory snapped OU’s six-game losing streak and was its third shutout in conference play.

The Sooners improved to 29-21 overall and 9-14 in Big 12 play, while Missouri dropped 34-14 and 15-8.

Taylor (8-3) lasted 52⁄3 innings and struck out five for his team-leading eighth victory and first in his last three starts.

The Sooners’ bullpen held the Tigers hitless as Conaway was perfect over 21⁄3 innings with four strikeouts and Garrett Richards pitched a flawless ninth to seal the victory.

“This was a much-needed win,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “I was proud of the way we bounced back after yesterday’s loss. The coaching staff always stresses mental toughness to these student-athletes and we displayed that today.”

The Sooners struck first on Aaron Baker’s fielder’s choice in the first frame, which plated Joseph Hughes after he was hit by a pitch. The unearned run was scored thanks to a combination of Baker’s grounder back to the pitcher and an attempted double play by Missouri shortstop Gary Arndt, who made an errant throw to first allowing Hughes to come home from second base.

The Sooners extended their lead in the top of the seventh. The frame began with Bryant Hernandez’s first career triple. The hit set up Aaron Ivey’s RBI single to center field, giving OU a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, with one out, Aaron Reza singled and later scored with Ivey on Jackson Williams’ two-run single to right.

The Sooners added an extra insurance run in the seventh off Joe Dunigan’s 44th RBI of the season.

The series finale is set for 1 p.m. today