COLLEGE WORLD SERIES : Cochell Isn’t Caught Short, Oklahoma Rallies to Win

Larry Cochell has a theory that baseball teams can never have enough shortstops.

When Cochell was the coach at Cal State Fullerton, he guided the Titans to the 1990 College World Series with a lineup that included converted shortstops playing first, second and third base.

This season, his second at Oklahoma, Cochell has another lineup of interchangeable infielders. That versatility and a six-run sixth inning helped the Sooners stay alive in the College World Series with an 8-4 victory over Wichita State at Rosenblatt Stadium on Monday.

Oklahoma (43-23) will play an elimination game tonight against Texas.

Oklahoma senior Brian Eldridge, an All-American second baseman from Sepulveda, left the game during the second inning because of a leg injury suffered in a first-inning collision with Richie Taylor of Wichita State (56-11).

Cochell moved Greg Norton from third base to second, Jason Evans from first to third and inserted Mike Smedes, a junior from Laguna Hills, at first.

The Sooners, who committed three errors during a first-round loss against Texas, were error-free against the Shockers.

“We have been able to move around between positions all season, which has really helped us, especially when people have gotten hurt,” said Evans, a former standout at Chatsworth High who transferred to Oklahoma from California. “We can give teams a lot of different looks.”

Evans’ home run during the sixth inning against relief ace Darren Dreifort (6-2) broke a 2-2 tie and started the winning rally.

Oklahoma right-hander Scott Moore (5-4) gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings of relief. Zak Krislock, a junior from Torrance, pitched 1 1/3 innings for his fifth save.