No. 19 Oklahoma Baseball Takes On Texas Tech

April 26, 2000

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NORMAN, Okla. - Nineteenth-ranked Oklahoma (31-15, 14-7 Big 12) begins the week with a Top 25 matchup against No. 3 Arizona State (35-10, 11-4 Pac 10) before traveling to Lubbock, Texas, to take on Texas Tech (27-19, 15-9 Big 12) this weekend. The Sooners and the Sun Devils meet at the Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for the fourth contest between the two teams this season.

Oklahoma and Texas Tech battle this weekend for possession of fourth place in the conference. Game times for this weekend are 7 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

LAST TIME OUT
The Sooners completed a three-game sweep of the Oklahoma State Cowboys last weekend for the first time since 1976. Oklahoma captured a 5-3 win Friday night in Tulsa before emerging victorious 3-1 and 7-5 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, in Oklahoma City.

First baseman Rick Park and shortstop Tommy Whiteman acted as the offensive heroes for OU throughout the series. The duo belted back-to-back home runs in the third inning of Friday night's game to help the Sooners grab an early 3-0 lead. Park then hit his second home run in as many games against the Cowboys on Saturday, while Whiteman turned in a 4-for-4 performance, including two doubles and three runs scored, on Sunday.

Team closer Jeff Bajenaru racked up three saves over the weekend by closing out all three games.

THE HISTORY
OU salvaged the final game of the three-game set against ASU early in March after dropping the first two games of the series. The series is tied at eight over the last 10 years.

The Red Raiders three-game sweep of the Sooners in Norman last year gave Texas Tech a 12-7 series edge over the last 10 years. OU's biggest win over Texas Tech since the beginning of Big 12 Conference competition in 1997 was a 19-17 victory in the championship game of the inaugural Big 12 Tournament in 1997.

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS
Arizona State (35-10, 11-4 Pac 10) has won nine of their last 11 games. The Sun Devils recently took two of three from the UCLA Bruins at home last weekend. ASU's offense has scored 10 or more runs in four of its last six games, including a 24-run outburst at Washington State a week ago. Arizona State took two of three games from Oklahoma in early March by scores of 11-5 and 6-5 before the Sooners salvaged the final game of the series 5-4.

Catcher Casey Myers leads 10 Sun Devils with a batting average of .300 or better with a .416 average. Lefthander Jon Switzer leads all ASU pitchers with an 8-1 record over 14 games started.

SCOUTING THE RED RAIDERS
Texas Tech (27-19, 15-9 Big 12) sits in fifth place in the Big 12 Conference standings, two games behind Oklahoma in the loss column, entering this weekend's contests. The Red Raiders have won five of their last six games with their only loss being a 4-0 decision at Kansas last weekend.

Infielder Chaz Eiguren leads Texas Tech offensively with a .374 batting average, including a team-leading 10 home runs and 63 RBIs. Pitchers Kevin Tracey, Cory Metzler and J.J. Newman have combined to start more than half of the Red Raiders contests. Righthander Kevin Tracey leads the trio with five wins and a 4.37 ERA.

SOONERS VS. THE RED RAIDERS
OKLAHOMA CAREER STATS VERSUS TEXAS TECH

PITCHERS

	G	W-L	S	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Michael Bradbury, So.	1	0-0	0	4.50	2.0	3	1	1	1	1
Evan Greusel, So.	1	0-0	0	2.25	4.0	2	1	1	3	4
Rick Park, Sr.	3	0-1	0	11.61	6.2	9	8	8	5	8

POSITION PLAYERS

	G	AVG.	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO
Jeff Bajenaru, Sr.	3	.333	9	1	3	1	0	0	1	2	2
Chad Cochell, Sr.	4	.167	6	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2
Zach Lekse, Sr.	3	.308	13	2	4	0	0	0	0	1	1
Sean Murphy, Jr.	2	.400	5	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	2
Rick Park, Sr.	11	.290	38	6	11	4	0	3	10	4	7
Jeremy Vidales, Sr.	1	.000	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tommy Whiteman, So.	3	.364	11	1	4	0	1	0	1	0	4
Josh Witcher, Sr.	2	.333	9	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	2

BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - AGAIN
Oklahoma first baseman Rick Park was honored as the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday. Park led the Sooners to a perfect 5-0 record for the week by hitting .600 (12-for-20) with five runs scored and 12 RBIs, including three home runs and four multi-RBI performances. It marked the second time this season the Norman native has garnered player of the week honors. He also earned the honor for the week of March 27 - April 2.

Park collected at least one hit and one RBI in each of the five games played during the week. Park propelled Oklahoma to its first three-game sweep of Oklahoma State since 1976 by belting home runs in the first two games of the Bedlam series and driving in two of the first four Sooner runs in Sunday's series finale.

Park tied career highs in hits against McNeese State with two four-hit performances over the two-game set, while also tying a career high in RBIs with five in the Tuesday night tilt. The senior co-captain finished the McNeese State series 8-for-11 with three runs scored and seven RBIs.

BREAKING INTO THE POLLS
The University of Oklahoma baseball team broke into the nation's top 25 collegiate baseball polls as the rankings were released yesterday. Baseball America ranked Oklahoma at No. 19, Collegiate Baseball listed the team at No. 20, while the team rounded out the polls at No. 23 in the USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN rankings. It marks the first time the Sooners have been ranked in both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls since the week of May 18, 1998, when Oklahoma was No. 14 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 20 in Baseball America.

OU's PREMIER CLOSER
Senior Jeff Bajenaru became Oklahoma's career saves leader after picking up his 15th save as a Sooner two weeks ago against Texas Christian. Bajenaru broke the record he shared with former Sooner Bucky Buckles, who captured all 14 of his saves in Oklahoma's national championship season of 1994.

Bajenaru also became the school's single-season saves leader this past weekend by tallying his 15th save of the season. The previous single-season saves record was 14, also held by Buckles.

The righthanded reliever racked up eight saves last season and currently owns 15 this year after tallying four saves last week. Bajenaru is 23-for-25 in saves opportunities over the last two years.

STREAKING INFIELDERS
Shortstop Tommy Whiteman currently owns the team's longest individual hitting streak at 17 games. The sophomore is hitting .418 (28-for-67) with 19 runs scored and 12 RBIs over the stretch. He has also hit two home runs, six doubles and two triples over the span.

The streak is the second-longest streak produced by a Sooner this season. Teammate Zach Lekse set a career-high 21-game hitting streak that was snapped two weeks ago at Kansas.

DIAMOND NOTES
Of Jeff Bajenaru's seven home runs hit this season, five have been solo shots and four of those have led off an inning.

Righthander Logan Cuellar made his first appearance of the season last Tuesday against McNeese State after recovering from shoulder surgery. Cuellar did not allow a hit, struck out two and walked one in three innings of work to pick up his first victory of the season.

Shortstop Tommy Whiteman has not been caught stealing in 10-straight attempts, a stretch covering 24 games.

On a list of pseudo-RPI ratings supplied recently by the Big 12 Conference, Oklahoma stood at No. 16 on the list with a rating of .616. Five of the Sooners' 2000 opponents (Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas) are ranked ahead of OU on the list.

The Sooners have won 14 of their last 15 contests.

Oklahoma swept Oklahoma State in a three-game regular season series last weekend for the first time since 1976.

The Bedlam series drew 31,412 over the three-game set last weekend. A national television audience on FOX Sports Net joined 12,300 fans at the Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark to watch the Sooners defeat the Cowboys 3-1 on Saturday.

With the three-game sweep of OSU last weekend, OU has swept as many conference opponents (three) this season as nationally-ranked Baylor and Texas.

Entering last weekend's games against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma ranked first in the Big 12 Conference in fielding percentage (.970).

The Sooners surpassed their entire 1999 win total of 30 wins during last weekend's sweep of the Cowboys.

PARK IN THE RECORD BOOKS
As senior Rick Park enters his final season in a Sooner uniform, the Norman, Okla., native looks primed to climb his way to the top of several Oklahoma career offensive records. In addition to the categories listed, Park also has the opportunity to break into the top ten in career hits, career runs scored and career doubles.

CAREER HOME RUNS:
1.	Casey Bookout	60	1996-99
2.	Brian Shackelford	55	1995-98
3.	John Russell	48	1980-82
4.	Chris Ebright	45	1987-89
	Rick Park	45	1997-

CAREER RBIs
1.	Brian Shackelford	251	1995-98
2.	Chris Ebright	239	1987-89
3.	Casey Bookout	220	1996-99
4.	Rick Park	203	1997-

CAREER EXTRA BASE HITS
1.	Brian Shackelford	132	1995-98
2.	Chris Ebright	120	1987-89
3.	Casey Bookout	119	1996-99
4.	Rick Park	97	1997-
	Kevin Pearson	97	1983-86

SOONER ALUMNI IN THE MAJORS
As of opening day of the 2000 Major League Baseball season, the Sooners had six former players on the opening day rosters. The group includes Ryan Minor (Baltimore Orioles), Greg Norton (Chicago White Sox), Bobby Witt (Cleveland Indians), Mark Redman (Minnesota Twins), Darron Cox (Montreal Expos) and Russ Ortiz (San Francisco Giants). The total is second to Texas' eight former alumni, while the Big 12 Conference boasts 22 players total.

Last year, 27 players with conference ties played in the majors. There have been 295 alumni of Big 12 schools to play in the highest division of organized baseball.

DEFENSIVE GEM
Senior Zach Lekse was recognized in October as a Division I runner-up for the 1999 Easton Redline Defensive Award. The annual award, which is published in Collegiate Baseball, is presented to an individual in each NCAA division and at the high school level who has displayed outstanding defensive skills in the field.

As a member of the OU baseball team that finished the season ranked third in the nation in fielding percentage, the Martinez, Calif., native was a main contributor to the team's defensive success. Starting all 59 games for the Sooners, Lekse made 75 putouts, a team-high 171 assists while committing only 12 errors. He also sported a .953 fielding percentage. Lekse's outstanding defensive numbers combined with a solid offensive effort earned the former junior college transfer second-team All-Big 12 honors at the shortstop position in his first season of Big 12 competition.

MILESTONE VICTORY
With the Sooners' 9-4 victory on opening day against Oklahoma Baptist, head coach Larry Cochell picked up his 350th win at Oklahoma. Beginning his tenth year at OU, Cochell has acheived the milestone quicker than any other baseball coach in school history. It is the second time in his coaching career that Cochell has surpassed the mark as he accomplished 428 victories as the head coach at Oral Roberts.

AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!
Head coach Larry Cochell, who has only named a team captain once during his tenure at Oklahoma, has chosen seniors Jeff Bajenaru, Zach Lekse and Rick Park to act as the team's co-captains for the 2000 season. The trio are the first team captains to be named by Cochell since 1995 when Rich Hills was appointed the duties.

UPCOMING GAME PROMOTIONS
Giveaways and special events will accompany every home game until the end of the season. The first 150 fans at each game will be given free promotional items, like keychains and koozies, as they come through the gates. The special promotions for the Sooners' final home series versus Missouri (May 6-8) include baseball yo-yo's, stress baseballs and OU team trading cards. Saturday, May 6, will be designated as Elementary School Night while the series finale will be Fan Appreciation/Senior Night.

TOUGH COMPETITION
Once again, the Sooners' 2000 schedule features some of the country's toughest opponents. This season's competition includes seven teams that were ranked in the final 1999 Baseball America Top 25 poll as well as three 1999 College World Series participants. In addition to last year's final rankings, 10 of OU's 2000 opponents are ranked in either the 2000 Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball or Baseball Weekly/ESPN preseason polls.

For the fifth consecutive year, national powerhouse Arizona State will engage in a home-and-home series with the Sooners. Other schedule highlights include an appearance at the Southwestern Bell Ballpark in Oklahoma City on March 29 by 1999 College World Series participant Cal State-Fullerton. Oklahoma faces Texas A&M, another College World Series qualifier, on April 7-9 in College Station, Texas. Big 12 rival Texas travels to Norman for a three-game series beginning March 31, and OU will head to Lafayette, La. (Feb. 25-27), to face Louisiana-Lafayette who finished the 1999 season ranked 18th in the nation.

Oklahoma's annual Bedlam Series with 1999 College World Series participant Oklahoma State will be held at the end of April. The first of the three games will be played in Tulsa on Friday, April 21 at 7:30 pm, at Driller's Stadium. The Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark will host the final two games at 1 pm on Saturday, April 22, and Sunday, April 23. The series attracted over 42,235 fans over four games last year.

TAPPING THE JUCO CIRCUIT
Head coach Larry Cochell brought in a group of highly-touted junior college recruits to aid the Sooners' efforts in 2000. Cochell landed a first team Junior College All-American in Jerome Godsey. Godsey, a pitcher and outfielder at Santa Rosa (Calif.) C.C., batted .358, including 27 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, last season to also earn all-conference honors for the second year in a row.

Infielder Jason Bartlett and catcher/outfielder Eliot Joyner also highlight the JUCO unit. Bartlett averaged .457 with three home runs and 33 stolen bases in his final year at San Joaquin Delta C.C. (Calif.). Joyner garnered honorable mention conference honors in 1999 after hitting .326 with four home runs at Cerritos (Calif.) C.C.

CLASS OF 2001
The Sooners signed seven high school recruits during college baseball's early signing period in the fall to play for the Sooners beginning with the the 2001 season. Six of the signees hail from the state of Oklahoma, while the seventh hails from Arkansas. The recruiting class includes three pitchers, two outfielders, one infielder and one catcher.

Headlining the group is signee Jason Belcher, from Walnut Ridge (Ark.) High School, who is ranked as the 63rd top high school prospect in the nation by Baseball America and rated among the top three high school catchers in the country by Perfect Game scouting service.

SPEAKING OF RECRUITING CLASSES
The current group of newcomers was ranked as one of the top 30 recruiting classes in a recent issue of Collegiate Baseball. The class was rated as the 29th best recruiting class in the nation for 2000. Other Big 12 members listed in the rankings were Texas (3), Texas A&M (7), Oklahoma State (16) and Texas Tech (28).

OFF THE FIELD ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During the fall semester, 16 Sooners achieved a 3.0 or better grade point average for their efforts in the classroom. In addition, 13 players currently hold a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

BEAM CLAY FIELD OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Sooner baseball program was recently awarded second place in the Beam Clay Field of the Year Award competition for L. Dale Mitchell Park's quality field surface. Top honors are awarded to the most outstanding baseball fields in the nation at the professional, collegiate, high school and parks and recreation levels.

Oklahoma took first place honors in 1994, the last time OU was able to enter the contest. Programs can enter the competition only once every five years.

SOONERS ON THE AIR
Every Sooner baseball game will be broadcast on 1400 AM KNOR-Norman, and 1490 AM KOKC-Guthrie. There will also be 10 games aired on the Sooner Radio Network. The broadcast team will consist of Mark Mathew and Mike Treps.

In addition to the radio, each broadcast will be carried on the Internet. To hear Sooner baseball anywhere in the world, log on to the University of Oklahoma's athletic web site at www.soonersports.com.

SOONERS ON TELEVISION
The Sooner baseball team is scheduled to have five games televised this season on major cable television networks. The Oklahoma-Texas series this weekend (March 31 - April 2) will be broadcast by College Sports Southwest. OU will have its contest against Texas A&M on Saturday, April 8, televised by FOX Sports Net at 7 p.m. The second game of the Bedlam Series between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State at the Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City on Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m., will also be broadcast by FOX Sports Net.

SOONER SPORTSTALK
Head coach Larry Cochell talks about Sooner baseball and answers call-in questions every Thursday night at 7 p.m. on Sooner Sportstalk on KOMA 1520 AM. The Red Lobster in Oklahoma City sponsors the live 30-minute radio show which is hosted by local television talent Bob Barry, Sr.

FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
Austin Mix * RHP * 6-3 * 208 * R/R
Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)

Through games of April 16, freshman Austin Mix was tied for 12th in the country in wins. Only two other freshmen in the nation ranked ahead of Mix in the category.

Owns a perfect 6-0 record against Big 12 Conference opponents.

Mix's nine wins have included victories over three Top 25-ranked opponents, including Arizona State, Baylor and Texas.

The righthander's only loss was a 3-2 loss to nationally-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette in which Mix went seven innings and allowed only three runs on three hits while striking out eight.

Among the Big 12 Conference leaders (as of April 19):

Wins: T-2nd (8)
Opponent Batting Average: 5th (.213)
Strikeouts: 6th (66)
Innings Pitched: 10th (69.0)

Has won his last five-consecutive decisions.

Has not allowed an earned run in his last two starts, a span of 16.0 innings pitched.

Has not allowed an opponent to reach double-digits in hits in any of his starts.

Established a career-high in strikeouts in his second start against Kansas State by fanning 11 batters.

ALL-AMERICAN - UTILITY/PITCHER
Jeff Bajenaru * P/OF * SR
6-1 * 190 * R/R * Chino Hills, Calif. (Riverside C.C.)

The Sooners' starting rightfielder and team closer. Has also seen time as the team's designated hitter.

As of April 16, Bajenaru was tied for fifth in the nation in saves with 11. The senior co-captain has racked up four more saves since then to increase his total to 15.

Among the Big 12 Conference leaders (as of April 19):

Saves: 2nd (12)
Appearances: 2nd (23)

Broke the school's career and single-season save records already this season.

With 15 saves and one win, Bajenaru has played a significant role in almost half of the Sooners' 31 wins.

15-for-17 in save opportunities this season.

Four of his 15 saves have come against Top 25-ranked teams.

Batting .311 (14-for-45), including nine runs scored and 10 RBIs, versus nationally-ranked teams, while compiling a 1.64 ERA over 11.0 innings pitched against the Top 25-ranked teams.

Has ranked consistently in the top five of every major team offensive category this season.

SOONERS AT A GLANCE

2 Zach Lekse
Starting second baseman.

Has started 104-of-105 games over the last two years. Missed the Central Oklahoma game due to a slight ankle sprain.

Established a career-high 21-game hitting streak just two weeks ago.

Went 6-for-9 with six runs scored and three RBIs in two games against McNeese State last week.

Among the team leaders: runs scored (second - 34), hits (tied for second - 58) and batting average (fifth - .320).

3 Sean Murphy
Starting leftfielder.

Started in every game, making appearances in right field, second base, first base, left field and as the team's designated hitter.

Collected at least one hit in all five games last week, including three multi-hit performances.

Among the team leaders: stolen bases (tied for second - 13), triples (third - 1), home runs (third - 3), RBIs (tied for third - 27), doubles (tied for third - 10), slugging percentage (fourth - .444), total bases (fourth - 79) and walks (fifth - 13).

6 Tommy Whiteman
Starting shortstop.

Currently riding a career-high 17-game hitting streak.

Hitting .418 (28-for-67) with 19 runs scored and 12 RBIs over the streak.

Has doubled his stolen base total of 1999 with 15 already this season.

Ranks in the top five in every major offensive category.

8 Jerome Godsey
Starting centerfielder and the team's lead-off hitter.

Only Sooner to hit a grand slam home run this season.

Went 5-for-7 at the plate over two games against McNeese State last week with four runs scored and two RBIs.

Among the team leaders: on base percentage (first - .429), walks (first - 25), batting average (second - .339), runs scored (tied for third - 33), hits (fourth - 57), total bases (fifth - 69) and slugging percentage (fifth - .411).

22 Jason Bartlett
Starting third baseman.

Had a career-high four hits in the Sooners 12-6 win over No. 21 Baylor.

Among the team leaders: stolen bases (tied for second - 13), doubles (tied for third - 10), triples (tied for third - 1) and walks (tied for third - 17).

27 Austin Mix
No. 2 pitcher in the starting rotation.

Has not allowed an earned run over his last two starts, a span of 16.0 innings.

Among the team leaders: wins (first - 9), strikeouts (first - 74), games started (tied for first - 10), innings pitched (second - 76.0), opposing batting average (fourth - .206) and appearances (tied for fourth - 14).

Among the conference leaders: wins (tied for first - 9), opposing batting average (third - .206), and strikeouts (fifth - 74).

28 Jeff Bajenaru
Team closer and starting rightfielder.

Picked up a save in four of the five games played last week.

Ranks in the top five on the team in every major offensive category except walks, stolen bases and triples.

Among pitching team leaders: appearances (first - 26), ERA (second - 2.11), opposing batting average (third - .199) and strikeouts (fourth - 41).

Among conference pitching leaders: saves (first - 15) and appearances (second - 26).

30 Michael Bradbury
No. 3 starter in the rotation.

Received a no-decision in his only start last week.

Among pitching team leaders: starts (third - 7), wins (tied for fourth - 3) and ERA (fifth - 3.50).

32 Rick Park
Starting first baseman.

Collected at least one base hit in every game last week, including three multi-hit efforts, enroute to Big 12 Player of the Week honors.

Ranks in the top five in every major offensive category except runs scored, triples and stolen bases.

Among conference leaders: home runs (fourth - 12), RBIs (fifth - 50) and total bases (seventh - 104).

36 Chad Cochell
Switching off s the team's designated hitter against righthanded pitchers in recent weeks.

Belted his first career home run against McNeese State last week.

Matched a career high in hits with three against No. 21 Baylor.

37 Evan Greusel
Has solidified himself as the No. 1 pitcher in the startin rotation.

Picked up his third win in a row against Oklahoma State on Friday night.

Struck out a career-high nine batters against the Cowboys.

Among team pitching leaders: opposing batting average (first - .178), strikeouts (third - 45), innings pitched (fourth - 44.0), wins (tied for fourth - 3) and starts (fifth -4).

BULLPEN BITS

JEFF BAJENARU:

Saves/blown saves: 15/2

Inherited runners/scored: 14/1

Last appearance: 4/23 vs. Oklahoma State - 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

OU's career and single-season saves leader.

Three saves have come against Top 25-ranked teams.

Picked up four saves last week.

Through games of April 19, Bajenaru was second in the Big 12 Conference in saves.

As of April 16, Bajenaru was tied for fifth in the nation in saves.

Bajenaru has saved almost half of the teams wins (31).

ROCKY CHERRY:

Saves/blown saves: -/-

Inherited runners/scored: 1/0

Last appearance: 4/22 vs. Oklahoma State - 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Moved out of the starting rotation and into the bullpen.

As a relief pitcher, has compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.98 ERA, surrendering only three earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched.

AUSTIN COOSE:

Saves/blown saves: -/-

Inherited runners/scored: 1/1

Last appearance: 4/23 vs. Oklahoma State - 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO

Moved into the bullpen after beginning the season as a starter.

Allowed only three hits over his first two relief appearances (a stretch of 3.2 innings pitched).

Sat down 12-straight batters against Oklahoma State on Sunday.

CLINT DUNBAR:

Saves/blown saves: -/-

Inherited runners/scored: 9/5

Last appearance: 4/19 vs. McNeese State - 1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Surrendered only three hits and one run through his first five outings.

Picked up his first collegiate win in his last appearance.

JEFF WIGINGTON:

Saves/blown saves: -/-

Inherited runners/scored: 1/1

Last appearance: 3/24 vs. No. 21 Baylor - 0.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

Earned his first start of the season and posted career highs in innings pitched (8) and strikeouts (6) against Murray State.

Earned second start of the season last Tuesday against McNeese State.

University of Oklahoma Athletics