Completed Event: Baseball versus (2) Georgia Tech on May 31, 2026 , Win , 15, to, 8
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU vs. No. 4 South Carolina Friday
February 09, 2007 | Baseball
NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma baseball team will face a trio of opponents for the first time this weekend in the Hughes Bros. Challenge in Wilmington, N.C. The Sooners are the only team in the tournament with a game played in the 2007 season.
The Hughes Bros. Challenge is hosted by UNC-Wilmington at Brooks Field and the tournament slate has OU facing No. 4 South Carolina, the host Seahawks and Western Kentucky.
The Sooners will begin the tournament with the Gamecocks on Friday at noon. Action in the Hughes Bros. Challenge continues on Saturday at noon against UNC-Wilmington and OU concludes the weekend at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday against Western Kentucky.
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BROADCAST INFORMATION
This weekend's games will be broadcast live via the internet by Yahoo with Chuck Kelly calling the play-by-play. Pregame coverage for all Sooner baseball games begins 15 minutes prior to the first pitch. In addition, live stats for all games this season can be viewed on Soonersports.com.
Fans can also E-mail the radio booth by clicking the following link - E-mail your questions to the radio booth and the OU broadcast crew will answer your questions during the Sooners' games.
UPDATING THE SOONERS
For the second time in three years the OU baseball team began the season with an 0-2 mark, dropping an 8-3 decision to Texas State on Friday and a 2-0 game to Texas-Pan American on Saturday in the UTPA Classic. The Sooners also began the 2005 season with back-to-back losses (Gonzaga and Arizona State).
The Oklahoma offense struggled in the first two games but pitching proved to be a positive through the weekend. On Sunday, OU used both offense (nine hits) and strong pitching (one earned run) to record its first win of 2007, a 6-5 contest over UTPA.
Cumulative statistics from the 2007 season for OU can be found on pages 6-9 (individual stats on pages 13-46). This weekend's opponents are located on the following pages: South Carolina - 10, UNC-Wilmington - 11 and Western Kentucky - 12.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks, ranked No. 4 nationally by Baseball America, are the favorites to win the Southeastern Conference in 2007.
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On the mound, junior Harris Honeycutt (RHP) is expected to start on Friday versus the Sooners. Honeycutt is fresh off a successful sophomore season that saw him finish with a 7-0 record and 3.33 ERA. Honeycutt tossed 67 2/3 innings last year with 65 strikeouts and 32 walks.
Sophomore Justin Smoak is back for his second season at first base for the Gamecocks. Smoak was one of the most decorated newcomers in the country last year after batting .303 with 17 HR and 63 RBIs. He earned freshman All-America honors from Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball.
The Sooners and the Gamecocks have never met on the baseball diamond. Last year, both teams were one win away from advancing to the College World Series. USC returns six position starters and 10 pitchers from their 2006 squad.
SCOUTING UNC-WILMINGTON
UNC Wilmington, the defending Colonial Athletic Association baseball champions, received three first-pace votes and was picked to finish second in the coaches' preseason Poll.
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Sophomore Bradley Holt (RHP) is expected to take the mound on Saturday against the Sooners. Holt was 3-3 with a 3.48 in his inaugural campaign with UNCW. Holt struck out 42 batters and walked 28 over 54 1/3 innings.
Offensively, senior Jonathan Batts is the top returner after hitting .319 with 12 homers and 56 RBIs last season. In 2006, Batts was tied for the team lead in doubles with 18 and his 10 stolen bases ranked fifth on the team.
The Sooners and the Seahawks will be meeting for the first time on Saturday. UNC-Wilmington, like OU, has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four years.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
Western Kentucky is picked to finish ninth in the Sun Belt Conference under second year head coach Chris Finwood .
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Freshman Matt Ridings is the projected starter on the mound for WKU on Sunday. The right-hander is from Nashville, Tenn.
Senior Scotty Colt is the top statistical returner for the Hiltoppers on offense. After transferring from Iowa Western Community College, Colt hit a team-best .351 for WKU in 2006. His six homers and 51 RBIs ranked second on the team.
Sunday's meeting is the first between Western Kentucky and Oklahoma. The Hilltoppers finished eighth in the Sun Belt Conference a year ago. Their last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2004, when they won the Sun Belt Tournament and finished the season 35-26.
PLAYER TO WATCH: ALJAY DAVIS
The Sooners' second baseman stole four bases over the weekend, including three against UTPA on Feb. 3. Davis has a .462 on-base percentage and leads the team with four walks.
NEXT UP
The Sooners will have a week off to prepare for its home opener on Friday, Feb. 23 against Western Illinois. The game is the first in a three-game set against the Leathernecks. OU leads the all-time series with WIU, 7-1, and has rattled off six consecutive wins in the series.
NINE-GAME HOME STAND
After spending the first six games of the season on the road, OU returns to Norman for the longest home stand of the season. Friday's homer is the start of a nine-game home stand which also features games against Wichita State (Feb. 27), UC Riverside (March 2-4) and Creighton (March 6-7). Additionally, the WIU series is the start of a span that will see OU playing in Norman for 17 of the next 21 games.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets for the 2007 OU baseball season are now on sale through the OU Athletics Ticket Office and SoonerSports.com. To order your season tickets please call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or (800) 456-4668 or click here for more information available on SoonerSports.com.
The Sooners' home opener is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23 against Western Illinois at 3 p.m. The game is the first of a three-game series against the Leathernecks and the start of a nine-game home stand which also features games against Wichita State (Feb. 27), UC Riverside (March 2-4) and Creighton (March 6-7).
DOWNLOAD THE 2007 OU BASEBALL MEDIA GUIDE
View the complete 2007 Oklahoma Baseball Media Guide by clicking here. This is the official source of information on the Sooners produced by the OU Athletics Media Relations Department. The cost for the 2007 Baseball Guide is $15 and it is available at the OU Bookstore (405) 325-3511 (ask for general book sales), at all home games or by calling Sooner Sports Properties (405) 325-6465.
OU IN SEASON OPENERS
Since 1962, the OU baseball program is 35-11 in season openers. From 1984 till 2003, the Sooners won 20 consecutive season openers. The Sooners snapped a two-game losing streak (both to Gonzaga) with last year's 7-6 win over Texas State. OU's 21-3 record since 1984 has been made possible by run support. The Sooners have outscored the opposition 244-110, scoring in double digits on 11 occasions while averaging 10.5 a game.
OFFFENSE SNAPS OUT OF SLUMP
After scoring three runs on 10 hits in the first two games of the season, the OU offense snapped out of its slump with six runs and nine hits on Feb. 4. One difference from games one and two as compared with game three is timely hitting. In the first two games, the Sooners hit .150 with runners in scoring position and had zero two-out RBIs. In game three, OU hit .286 with RISP and connected for three two-out RBIs.
BULLPEN EFFECTIVE IN OPENING WEEKEND
The Sooners' pen has been solid after three games, allowing four earned runs and nine hits between seven hurlers. In 11 2/3 innings, the OU relievers have recorded seven strikeouts opposite six walks. The bullpen has an ERA of 2.31 and opponents are hitting .231 off the relievers.
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
After losing 12 seniors from last year's regional championship team, head coach Sunny Golloway and his staff started seven different newcomers, including three true freshmen (Aaron Baker, Bryant Hernandez and Devin Shepherd), throughout the weekend. Overall, 12 of the Sooners' 18 newcomers this season saw action in the UTPA Classic.
BAKER'S DELIGHT
True freshman Aaron Baker was arguably the most impressive first-year player on the yard over the weekend. Baker led the Sooners over the weekend with seven total bases, four hits, one home run and four RBIs. He came off the bench in the season opener against Texas State to collect two hits and one RBI and in the tournament finale, he hit his first career homer, a three-run shot that helped propel OU to its first win of the season on Feb. 4 over UTPA.
PORLIER POISED
The transfer from Tulane University wasted no time proving he is talented enough to pitch in the weekend rotation, making an impressive debut for the Sooners on Saturday, Feb. 3 against UTPA. Porlier came out of the OU bullpen to strike out six batters and pitch four innings of no-hit ball. He retired the first seven batters he faced before allowing a walk, the only base runner he allowed. He also struck out five straight batters (three looking).
STARTING ROTATION
The Sooners' weekend rotation in 2006 featured the same three hurlers throughout the entire season. In 2007, the OU coaching staff expects things to change with a lot of competition on the staff. In the first weekend, junior Ryan Mottern and seniors Jimmy Rollins and Joseph Hughes were 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. The hurlers struck out 11 batters and four batters.
DRAFT DODGERS
In 2006, the Sooners' roster featured 12 players that were drafted at one point in their careers. That mark was second in the Big 12 to Oklahoma State's 14. This season, OU again ranks second in the conference with 10 draftees and those players are listed below as well as where that mark ranks in the Big 12:
Player Year - Round Team
Aaron Baker 2006 - 37th Minnesota Twins
Vincent Biancamano 2004 - 35th Kansas City Royals
Brad Burns 2004 - 37th New York Mets
Aljay Davis 2005 - 29th Chicago White Sox
Andrew Doyle 2006 - 39th Washington Nationals
Joe Dunigan 2004 - 41st Montreal Expos
Chris Henry 2004 - 41st Colorado Rockies
Antwonie Hubbard 2006 - 12th Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Ryan Mottern 2006 - 49th Cleveland Indians
Devin Shepherd 2006 - 5th Minnesota Twins
BIG 12 DRAFTEES
Texas - 11
OU -10
Texas A&M - 10
OSU - 8
Nebraska - 7
Baylor - 4
Missouri - 4
Texas Tech - 3
Kansas State - 2
Kansas - 1
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
The Sooners will once again have a tough schedule in 2007. Prior to Big 12 play, OU faces a challenging non-conference schedule that includes a total of seven teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 including South Carolina, UNC-Wilmington, Wichita State, San Diego, Michigan, TCU and UT-Arlington.Overall, the Sooners will face 13 opponents (23 total games) that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament, including two 2006 Super Regional teams (South Carolina and Missouri).
REZA TO MISS 4-6 WEEKS
Junior shortstop Aaron Reza will miss up to 4-6 weeks of the 2007 baseball season after breaking his glove hand (left) in practice last week. Reza, the Sooners' starting shortstop and a team captain, sustained the injury on a pick-off play. Reza made 56 starts for Oklahoma last year, mainly at shortstop, and appeared in all but four games for the Sooners. He was errorless for 219 consecutive chances leading up to Houston Super Regional. Reza was also solid at the plate in 2006, hitting .318 with 33 RBIs and 12 doubles.
FIVE CAPTAINS TO LEAD OU IN 2007
Five Sooners were selected by their teammates to captain the club in 2007. Seniors Aaron Ivey and Jimmy Rollins and juniors Ryan Mottern, Aaron Reza and Jackson Williams are among the 13 letterwinners returning for OU this season.OU
LOOKS TO BUILD ON 2006 REGIONAL
After only one full season as Oklahoma's baseball coach, Sunny Golloway already has the Sooners measuring their success by the number of times they get to pile up on the middle of the field for a celebration. In his first season, Golloway led the Sooners to their first super regional appearance since they went to the College World Series as the defending champions in 1995. The next step is getting back to that level. Click here to read the full article written by the Associated Press.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Oklahoma Sooners led the nation in fielding percentage (.983) in 2006 and as a result, the team won a regional championship and was one win away from the program's 10th College World Series appearance. The Sooners lost four starters from the playing field but return five starters in 2007.
Last year's percentage is second in school history behind the .986 mark established by the 1951 team. The Sooners' won the program's first national title that same year.
MOTTERN NAMED TO WALLACE WATCH LIST
Junior hurler Ryan Mottern (RHP) was named to the watch list for the 2007 Brooks Wallace Award, presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. Mottern, a 2007 captain, is the third Sooner to make the list since it originated after the 2004 season. Former Sooners Eric Thornton and Steven Guerra were part of the watch lists in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Mottern is one of two pitchers that return this season with prior starting experience for the Sooners. Last season, the Palestine, Texas, native finished with a 4-2 mark in eight starts (13 appearances) scattered across 37 2/3 innings pitched. In that span, the right-hander struck out 36 batters and walked 22. Additionally, Mottern saw time as the Sooners' designated hitter and as an outfielder a year ago.
BIG 12 PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The University of Oklahoma baseball team was picked fifth in the Big 12 Conference Coaches' preseason poll as released by the league office on Jan. 29. OU received 46 points in the Big 12 poll, 11 points shy of fourth place Baylor.
Texas once again topped the list for the fifth straight year with 79 points, including seven first-place votes. Oklahoma State (70) followed the Longhorns at No. 2 with two first-place votes. Nebraska (64) and Baylor (57) rounded out the top four. Following the Sooners was Texas Tech (37), Texas A&M (34), Missouri (29), Kansas (22) and Kansas State (12).
The Sooners were also picked to finish fifth last season and ended the regular season in third place and was the last conference team standing in the NCAA Tournament, coming up one win shy of the College World Series. The last time OU was picked higher than fifth prior to a season was in 2003 when the Sooners were tabbed third.
2007 Big 12 Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll
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RADIO BROADCAST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
The University of Oklahoma baseball team released its 2007 radio and internet broadcast schedule on Jan. 25. The entire 56-game regular season schedule will be broadcast live on the internet via Yahoo.
In addition, KOKC 1520 AM will again serve as the flagship station of Sooner baseball and 40-plus games are scheduled to broadcast live. Additionally, 11 of the games (listed below) are set to be carried on the Sooners Sports' Network, enabling fans to listen to OU baseball on the radio state-wide. For a list of affiliates in Oklahoma, visit the Sooner baseball page on SoonerSports.com.
Network Games:
Sunday, March 25 Texas A&M
Sunday, April 1 at Texas
Friday, April 6 at Baylor
Sunday, April 15 Nebraska
Sunday, April 22 at Kansas State
Sunday, April 29 Kansas
Friday, May 4 vs. Oklahoma State
Saturday, May 5 vs. Oklahoma State
Sunday, May 6 vs. Oklahoma State
Sunday, May 13 at Missouri Sunday, May 20 Texas Tech
GOLLOWAY RANKS AMONG BEST ACTIVE COACHES
Head coach Sunny Golloway ranks in a tie for 11th all-time among winningest active head coaches (by winning percentage) heading into the 2007 season. In 10 seasons, Golloway is 392-184-0 (.681).
FORMER OU COACH, VERN RUHLE, PASSES
Former University of Oklahoma and Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle (55) died Jan. 20 in Houston of complications from a donor stem cell transplant for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. Ruhle was Oklahoma's pitching coach from 1990-1995 and helped lead the Sooners to three College World Series appearances (1992, 1994 and 1995) and the program's second national title in 1994.
MINOR JOINS OU STAFF
Former Sooner and Major Leaguer Damon Minor is new to the Oklahoma baseball staff as a volunteer coach for the 2007 season.
Minor, who played at Oklahoma from 1993-1996, helped the Sooners win the 1994 National Championship and make a return trip to the College World Series in 1995, Minor, a 1996 All-America Honorable Mention, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1996. With the Giants, the former Sooner played on the Major League level from 2000-04. He enjoyed his best season in 2002 when San Francisco won the National League Championship and advanced to the World Series. During that season, Minor saw time in 83 games and connected for 10 home runs 24 runs batted in.
SOONERS FINISH 2006 RANKED NINTH
The University of Oklahoma baseball team recorded its highest top-25 finish since 1995 when Baseball America released its final poll of the 2006 season. The Sooners earned the No. 9 spot after coming within one win of advancing to the program's 10th College World Series appearance.
The 1995 OU team, which is the last squad to reach the CWS, finished the season as the No. 7 ranked team in the nation.
In the remaining final polls, the Sooners were ranked No. 10 by Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) and No. 11 on the Sports Weekly/USA Today list.
2007 SIGNING CLASS TABBED FOURTH BEST
For the third time in the last four years, the Oklahoma baseball team's incoming class was ranked in the nation's top 10, coming in at No. 4 as released by Collegiate Baseball in Sept. The 2007 class trailed South Carolina, Miami (Fl.) and Florida.
Oklahoma's 2007 class consists of 18 newcomers and features two players drafted highly in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, freshman outfielder Devin Shepherd (fifth-round) out of Oxnard Union High School in California and freshman right-handed pitcher Antwonie Hubbard (12th-round) from Hooks High School in Texas.
SOONERS SIGN EIGHT FOR 2008
Oklahoma baseball head coach Sunny Golloway announced the signing of eight baseball players for the 2008 season to national letters of intent in November.
For the second consecutive year, the OU coaching staff landed a projected first-round draft pick in Blake Beavan. Beaven was a member of the USA Junior National Team in 2006. Last year, Oklahoma signed Devin Shepherd, one of the highest ranked prep outfielders in the country (drafted in the fifth round by the Minnesota Twins).
Although Beavan headlines the class, the other signees have
earned their share of accolades in their young careers. The group features seven high school prospects and one junior college transfer.
Below is a brief look at the Sooners' newcomers in 2008:
Blake Beavan, RHP, 6-7, 210
Irving, Texas (Irving H.S.)
Chad Colbert, INF, 5-10, 170
Allen, Okla. (Allen H.S.)
P.J. Dean, RHP, 6-3, 175
New Caney, Texas (New Caney H.S.)
Ryan Duke, RHP/INF, 6-0, 165
Corpus Christi, Texas (Calallen H.S.)
Matt Hoffman, OF/LHP, 6-2, 190
Tulsa, Okla. (Owasso H.S.)
Gary Poynter, RHP, 6-3, 220
Flower Mound, Texas (Weatherford J.C./Marcus H.S.)
Michael Rocha, RHP, 5-11, 190
Austin, Texas (Hays Consolidated H.S.)
Brandon Smith, INF, 5-11, 205
Norman, Okla. (Norman North H.S.)
OU BASEBALL HISTORY
Click here to view a complete overview of the history of baseball at the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma is one of 12 schools to win multiple national titles and the Sooners nine College World Series appearances also ranks among the best in Division I baseball. Click the above link to learn more about the Sooners'postseason history, All-Americans and more.
Thursday, June 25
Wednesday, June 24
Monday, June 22
Monday, June 22
