Offense Explodes for 20-4 Victory

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 21 Sooners (15-5) completed a midweek sweep of Texas-Pan American (9-18) on Wednesday at L. Dale Mitchell Park with a 20-4 victory. OU pounded out 24 hits and scored eight runs in the first inning to cruise to its 13th victory in the last 14 games.

Wednesday's win comes a day after OU collected five hits en route to a 4-1 win over the Broncs and it marked the 15th straight victory at home (11-0 this season).

“This was just the medicine we needed today,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “I thought we had some good swings yesterday but obviously we were not pleased with our offensive performance. Today, I was really excited that our guys were able to come back and put that first inning together. You want to see those bats get hot before a weekend series, especially with the conference season over a week away, and we got to witness just that today.”

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The Sooners plated eight runs in the first inning and Aaron Reza started the scoring with a two-run triple to right-center field. The next batter, Aaron Baker, laced a single through the middle of the infield to bring home Reza and extend his team-leading hitting streak to 20 games.

A day after tying the OU freshman record, Baker took sole possession of fifth place in the OU record books with his streak.

The scoring in the first continued with Joseph Hughes' two-run double and Joe Dunigan's double to right-center field, which plated the final three runs of the frame.

With plenty of run support, OU starter Jimmy Rollins (1-1) cruised to his first win of the season. Rollins struck out two batters and allowed one unearned run off two hits and one walk in three innings pitched. Rollins was followed by Brad Burns, Chris Henry, Danny Grande, Andrew Doyle, Antwonie Hubbard and Zach Sawyer, who all pitched one inning each.

The pitching staff combined to strike out six batters and limited the Broncs to four runs off four hits and one walk.

UTPA starter Alex Guajardo (1-3) did not record an out in the first inning, suffering his third defeat of 2007 after allowing four earned runs on four hits.

The Sooners' recorded their second highest offensive output of the season with 20 runs scored off 24 hits. OU scored a run in every inning but the second and tied its season high for hits set against Western Illinois on Feb. 24. That game against the Leathernecks also saw the Sooners cross the plate on 24 occasions, the highest total of the season.

Seven different Sooners tallied two or more hits on Wednesday. Dunigan (4 RBIs), Reza (3 RBIs), Jarod Freeman and Devin Shepherd (2 RBIs) each connected for three hits, while Baker, Aaron Ivey and Brandon Moss had two base knocks and an RBI apiece.

Shepherd, who has hit safely in six consecutive games, was one of two Sooners to connect for a home run on Wednesday. Cory Williamson drove a two-run shot over the right-field fence in the bottom of the fifth for his second of the year. Shepherd's two-run shot over the left-field fence in the seventh, marked the first of his career.

OU will continue the home stand this weekend with a three-game series against Michigan State. First pitch during Friday's opener is slated for 7 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

On Saturday, March 17 the Sooners will wear green hats and green socks in honor of Saint Patrick's Day. In addition, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a replica of the green hat worn by the players and coaches. Below is a look at the rest of the promotions for this weekend's series.

For ticket information, call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 456-4668 or click HERE to purchase tickets on Soonersports.com.

This week's promotions:
Friday, March 16 - 7 p.m.
- first 250 fans will receive an OU pom pon

Saturday, March 17 - 3 p.m.
"St. Patrick's Day"
- first 1,000 fans will receive an OU green baseball hat

Sunday, March 18 - 12 p.m.
"Run the Bases"
- kids are invited to run around the bases after the game

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