OU Blasts Way To 9-5 Win Over UTSA In Baseball Opener

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Feb. 14, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Four Sooner sluggers went deep as the Oklahoma baseball team got off to a fast start to the 2003 season with a 9-5 season opening victory over Texas-San Antonio in front of 563 fans at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Friday. Seniors Luke Alexander, Matt Arkison and Reggie Willits as well as junior Andrew McGuire each hit their first home runs of the season to lead an OU offensive attack that generated seven extra base hits in the game. Alexander emerged as the team's offensive star of the contest as he collected a career-high four hits and added two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI to his home run performance. Oklahoma's first win of the year sent Texas-San Antonio to 0-5 on the season.

"Season openers are always a little bit dicey. You never know what you're going to get," said OU head coach Larry Cochell following the win. "I thought are starters performed really well today."

"Luke Alexander has been telling me all year he can hit lefthanders and he definitely proved that to me today," commented Cochell on his lefthanded first baseman's team-leading effort.

After OU fell behind 1-0 when UTSA scored an early run at the top of the first inning, Willits began the Sooners' home run hitting barrage with a solo shot to left field to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. His home run ignited three more consecutive hits as RBI-hits by Alexander and sophomore third baseman Matt Bose (2-for-5) led to two more runs to give Oklahoma a 3-1 edge at the end of the first inning.

Willits again helped put another run on the board in his next at bat as his sacrifice fly to center field drove in sophomore left fielder Tyler Johnson (1-for-3) from third base in the second inning.

The Sooners' next two runs were scored on solo homers by junior designated hitter Andrew McGuire (1-for-3) and senior right fielder Matt Arkison (1-for-4) who led off the third and fourth innings, respectively, with their shots.

Alexander's solo homer in the sixth frame followed a run created by Willits' speed on the base paths earlier in the inning. After reaching base on a walk, the Fort Cobb, Okla., native stole second base and came home after an errant throw by Roadrunner catcher Jeremy Blilie (1-for-4) advanced Willits home. Blilie's unsuccessful attempt to throw Willits out at third base on another stolen base attempt ended up in left field. Willits tied a career-high in the process with his third run scored of the game. The two-run frame gave OU a commanding 8-4 lead through six innings.

OU starter Mark Roberts (1-0) fought through two early runs in the first three innings to pick up his first win of the season. Roberts scattered eight hits and struck out six over seven innings of work.

Senior Austin Mix and sophomore Jarod McAuliff combined for the final two innings of relief. McAuliff, the Sooners' closer, worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth after coming on in relief of Mix and went on to sit down the final four batters of the game for his first save of the year.

OU and UTSA will face off in the second game of the three-game set tomorrow at 2 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Blasts Way To 9-5 Win Over UTSA In Baseball Opener

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