OU Cruises Past No. 20 UC Riverside

NORMAN, Okla. -- For the second straight game, the OU baseball team faced a top 20 opponent and came up victorious with a 14-5 decision over No. 20 UC Riverside on Friday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. OU used 14 hits to up its overall record to 7-4 and extend the club's winning streak to five games. UC Riverside fell to 10-5 after being limited to six hits.

After taking a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Aaron Reza's two-run homer, the Sooners never relinquished the lead. UCR narrowed the gap to two runs with a two-run fifth inning, but OU quickly countered and increased its 7-5 lead with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“I thought we had a great approach at the plate today,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “We tried to attack James Simmons early in the count because we knew that we could not allow him to get ahead. Our guys knew the plan and did a great job of executing today.”

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Friday's game featured two undefeated starters on the mound, but OU got the best out of its staff after it tagged UCR's James Simmons for seven runs on nine hits in five innings pitched.

Simmons, a preseason candidate for the Roger Clemens Award, entered the contest with a perfect 4-0 record and a 0.62 ERA, but could not slow down OU's offense which has recorded 10 or more hits in five of its last seven games.

For Oklahoma, Stephen Porlier improved to 3-0 on the season and limited the Highlanders to three earned runs on six hits and three walks across 5 1/3 innings pitched. For the third straight start, Porlier lasted five or more innings and he recorded his fourth straight appearance with five or more strikeouts.

“I was once again impressed with Stephen's start, especially after he bounced back after giving up five runs in the first three innings,” said Golloway. “That is a sign of being a quality pitcher. You have to be able to overcome adversity, stay in the ball game and absorb innings for us on Fridays. His performances have allowed our bullpen to stay strong throughout the weekend series.”

Heath Taylor was the first to come out of the Sooner bullpen in the sixth frame and the left-handed reliever was impressive over 2 2/3 innings. Taylor struck out seven Highlanders and did not allow a hit before giving way to Danny Grande in the ninth.

Reza, Joe Dunigan and Aaron Baker, the Sooners' No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters, led the offense with seven hits and seven RBIs. On Wednesday against No. 11 Wichita State, the trio were a combined 6-for-12 with all five of the club's RBIs.

“Its been great to have Aaron Reza back in our lineup, his return has been a great shot in our arm,” said Golloway. “We knew his defense would be solid, but the impressive thing to watch has been how quick he has bounced back offensively. He was unable to swing his bat for 4-to-5 weeks and his performance over the last five games shows how good of a ball player he is.”

OU and UC Riverside will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Sooners' Ryan Mottern (1-2, 4.70 ERA) will face off against the Highlanders' Pat Cassa (1-0, 1.08 ERA) at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Sunday's finale, which will be broadcast live by KOKC 1520 AM, is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.

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