Completed Event: Baseball versus (2) Georgia Tech on May 31, 2026 , Win , 15, to, 8
Final
Baseball
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Baseball Hosts UTPA Tuesday at 7 pm
March 12, 2007 | Baseball
NORMAN, Okla. -- Winner of 11 of the last 12 games, the No. 21 OU baseball team (13-5) returns home for a five-game home stand which begins with Texas-Pan American (9-16) on Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners and Broncs will conclude the midweek series on Wednesday, March 13 at noon.
OU and UTPA met twice earlier in the season at the UTPA Classic and split the meetings.
The Sooners hold a 12-4 advantage in the all-time series with the Broncs.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Both games against Texas-Pan American will be broadcast live via the internet by Yahoo. Tuesday's game will be carried by the Sooners' flagship station, KOKC 1520 AM, with Chuck Kelly calling the play-by-play. Pre-game coverage for all OU baseball games begins 15 minutes prior to the first pitch.
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.
In addition, live stats for all games this season can be viewed on Soonersports.com. A live webcast for both games will also be available on the O-Zone, Soonersports.com's paid site.
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UPDATING THE SOONERS
The Sooners extended their season-best winning streak to 11 games, with four wins last week, before suffering an 8-5 loss in the finale of the 2007 Tony Gwynn Classic on Sunday to Michigan.
OU swept Creighton in a midweek series before heading to San Diego for the 2007 Tony Gwynn Classic. In Friday's opener, OU topped host San Diego State, 4-1, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. On Saturday, OU defeated then-No. 22 San Diego 6-4 after overcoming the largest deficit of the season (four runs). The win over the Toreros marked the fifth for OU over a ranked opponent during the winning streak (OU also defeated then-No. 11 Wichita State and then-No. 20 UC Riverside in a three-game set).
SCOUTING TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN
Texas-Pan American is 7-15 since splitting two games with OU earlier this season.
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UTPA has not announced starting pitchers for the series. Senior left-hander Chad Linder could make the start in the opener. Linder started against OU in the second game of the season and topped the Sooners with zero runs allowed in seven innings pitched. Linder has three starts this year and is 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA. He has 13 strikeouts in 14 innings.
On offense, senior Patrick Brooks is one of the Broncs' top threats. He leads the squad with 18 RBIs and four homers. Brooks' .261 batting average ranks fifth best on the team. In 2006, Brooks hit .299 and led the team with six homers, 15 doubles and 36 RBIs.
OU last met UTPA in the 2007 UTPA Classic in Edinburg, Texas. The Sooners were topped 2-0 in game one and split the tournament meetings with a 6-5 win. OU leads the all-time series with the Broncs, 12-4. The Sooners and Broncs have not played in Norman since 2004. During that two-game set, OU topped UTPA 12-2 and 8-7.
PLAYER TO WATCH: NICH CONAWAY
The Sooners' right-handed reliever has 15 strikeouts in his last four outings, spanning 8 1/3 innings. Conaway earned his first save last week against San Diego State and is 2-0 on the season.
OU-UTPA ALL-TIME MEETINGS
Below is a closer look at the 16 meetings between the Sooners and Broncs.
2007, Feb. 4 - OU 6, UTPA 5 (Edinburg)
2007, Feb. 3 - UTPA 2, OU 0 (Edinburg)
2006, Feb. 4 - OU 16, UTPA 3 (Edinburg)
2004, May 16 - OU 8, UTPA 7 (Norman)
2004, May 15 - OU 12, UTPA 2 (Norman)
1990, March 12 - UTPA 7, OU 6 (Edinburg)
1990, March 13 - OU 8, UTPA 3 (Edinburg)
1988, March 8 - UTPA 3, OU 0 (Edinburg)
1987, March 10 - OU 4, UTPA 1 (Edinburg)
1986, March 10 - OU 10, UTPA 2 (Edinburg)
1985, March 9 - OU 8, UTPA 1 (Edinburg)
1985, March 8 - OU 4, UTPA 1 (Edinburg)
1984, March 16 - OU 5, UTPA 1 (Edinburg)
1984, March 12 - OU 4, UTPA 1 (Edinburg)
1983, Feb. 20 - OU 8, UTPA 2 (Edinburg)
1983, Feb. 17 - UTPA 3, OU 2 (Edinburg)
TICKETS AND PROMOTIONS FOR UTPA SERIES
Seats to this week's game are available for $10 (reserved), $7 (general admission), $5 (youth and senior citizen) and $3 for groups of ten or more at the OU Athletics Ticket Office (800-456-4668) and at SoonerSports.com. The gates will open an hour and a half before first pitch. Tuesday's game marks the second $.50 hot dog and $.50 coke night of the season while supplies last.
NEXT UP
OU hosts Michigan State over the weekend for a three-game set at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Friday's opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. Game two on Saturday is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch and Sunday's finale will get underway at noon.
CRIMSON AND GREEN?
The University of Oklahoma baseball team will celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Saturday, March 17th by taking the field in green hats and green socks against Michigan State at 3 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Players and coaches will wear green caps with a white interlocking O-U along with green socks and their white "home" uniforms (pictured right). The Sooners host the Spartans in a three-game series beginning with Friday's opener at 7 p.m. in Norman. Sunday's finale is slated for a noon first pitch. Sooner fans will have their chance to own a piece of memorabilia from Saturday's game as the first 1,000 in attendance will receive a green OU hat.
SOONERS BREAK INTO TOP 25
The latest polls released on Monday, March 12 have the Oklahoma Sooners in the top 25 for the first time this season. Baseball America's latest rankings has OU at No. 21 while Collegiate Baseball ranks it No. 24. The Sooners were receiving votes in the preseason polls and last week's rankings.
OKLAHOMA/BIG 12 RPI's
Although not official, Boydsworld.com provides a weekly pseudo RPI system. OU is ranked No. 21 in this week's ranking released on Monday, March 12. The Big 12 is rated the No. 3 power conference in the nation and is right behind the SEC and Conference USA. No. 17 Texas A&M and No. 21 Kansas State are the only Big 12 teams ahead of OU.
WINNING WAYS
After starting the season 2-4, the Sooners have rebounded to win 11 of the last 12 games. The Sooners won 11 straight at one point and recorded a 5-0 mark against top 25 teams in that span. In the last 12 games, OU is hitting .333 and has recorded seven games with 10 or more hits while averaging seven-plus runs per game.
FRIENDLY CONFINES OF L. DALE MITCHELL PARK
After spending the first six games of the season on the road, OU's return to Norman for the longest home stand of the season was successful as it finished 9-0. OU is hitting .342 and averaging 8.4 runs 11.4 hits per game. OU is hitting .252 away from home this season. Dating back to last season, OU has won 13 straight at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
OU is 5-1 this season against top 25 teams, suffering its only lose, 13-2, to then-No. 4 South Carolina. The Sooner have recorded wins over then-No. 11 Wichita State, 5-4, then-No. 20 UC Riverside (three games) and then-No. 22 San Diego, 6-4. The Sooners currently have four ranked teams, according to Baseball America's latest poll, left on its schedule that account for 10 of the remaining 38 regular season games. Those opponents are No. 10 Texas, No. 12 Wichita State, No. 14 Oklahoma State and No. 16 Texas A&M.
Prior to Big 12 play, OU's schedule 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).
BAKER'S STREAK
Freshman Aaron Baker has hit safely in all 18 of OU's games this season. The team-leading 18-game streak has Baker hitting .423 with 23 RBIs, both top five marks in the Big 12 Conference. The Denton, Texas, native has eight games this season with multiple hits and multiple RBIs.
PORLIER UPDATE
Sophomore Stephen Porlier won his fourth straight start on March 9 against San Diego State after recording eight strikeouts in six innings pitched. Porlier did not allow a run and only surrendered three hits in the contest. The transfer from Tulane has struck out five or more batters in each of his four starts this season and has lasted five or more innings in each outing. Porlier's four wins and 1.91 ERA both rank in the top five in the Big 12 Conference and his team-leading 31 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings ranks in the top 10 in the league.
GETTING IT DONE
Sooners' outfielder Joe Dunigan hit .444 during last week's contests (8-for-18). Dunigan collected 15 total bases (two doubles, triple and a home run) en route to slugging at a .838 clip. The junior also walked four times to record a .545 on-base percentage. Against Creighton on March 7, Dunigan tied a career high with three hits, marking the fourth time in his career that he has accomplished that feat (second this year). Also in that game, Dunigan drove in two runs and scored two more.
Dunigan currently leads the Sooners with a .621 slugging percentage and three home runs. He also ranks second on the team with 22 hits and third with 15 RBIs.
CONAWAY IN CONTROL
The hard-throwing right-hander has emerged out of the Sooners' bullpen in the last couple of weeks. In three appearances last week, Conaway struck out nine batters in 7 1/3 innings pitched and earned the first save of his career. The sophomore limited the opposition to one earned run (two total) and two hits in last week's action while holding Creighton, San Diego State and Michigan to a .087 batting average off the Sooners' reliever.
On the season, Conaway leads the club with seven appearances and has struck out 16 batters in 12 innings. He is 2-0 (one save) with a 3.00 ERA and has allowed four earned runs on five hits.
SOONERS ON TELEVISION
Baseball fans can catch action of three OU baseball games this season on live television, including a national broadcast by College Sports Television on April 5 when the Sooners visit Baylor. The complete broadcast schedule includes:
Thursday, April 5 at Baylor (CSTV)
Saturday, April 14 vs. Nebraska (FSN)
Sunday, May 6 vs. Oklahoma State (SSN)
BASEBALL ON THE O-ZONE
With the exception of the Feb. 28 game against Wichita State and the March 3 game UC Riverside, every game of the home portion of the 2007 schedule can be seen live via webcasts carried by the O-Zone, Soonersports.com's premium site. For more information on the O-Zone, please visit the O-Zone central page.
BIG 12 COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL
Fifteen members of the OU baseball team were named to the 2006 Fall Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Aaron Ivey was the lone Sooner to record a perfect 4. 0 GPA. Also making the list were Elliott Blair, Brad Burns, Andrew Doyle, Jarod Freeman, Zach Hedges, Bryant Hernandez, Joseph Hughes, Brandon Moss, Ryan Mottern, Stephen Porlier, Drew Roberts, Jimmy Rollins, Jackson Williams and Cory Williamson. Student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for the semester to qualify for the list.
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
DOWNLOAD THE 2007 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.
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.
Saturday, July 11
Thursday, June 25
Wednesday, June 24
Monday, June 22
