OU Extends Streak with 11-5 Win

NORMAN, Okla. -- Aaron Reza continued to swing a hot bat and Ryan Mottern limited the opposition to three hits over six innings as Oklahoma extended its winning streak to six games with an 11-5 win over No. 20 UC Riverside on Saturday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners improved to 8-4 with the victory as the Highlanders dropped to 10-6.

The win also marked the 400th of head coach Sunny Golloway's career. Golloway is 400-188 in his 10 years as a head coach (seven at Oral Roberts).

For the sixth time in the last eight games, OU's offense recorded 10 or more hits with 11 in the ball game.

With plenty of run support, the Sooners' pitching staff, led by Mottern (2-2), limited Riverside to five runs off six hits. Pat Cassa (1-1) took the loss for the Highlanders.

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“I thought our guys did a great job of getting control of the game early and manufacturing three runs by moving base runners,” said OU head coach Sunny Golloway. “I think that gave us the advantage with the cold temperatures and we were able to pull away later in the game.”

After UC Riverside jumped on top with a solo homer by Mike Vass in the second inning, OU tied the game when Devin Shepherd crossed the plate on an error by second baseman Bryan Horst.

After Vass' solo shot, Mottern settled down to retire seven consecutive batters. The right-hander finished the contest with one run allowed on three hits and two walks, while striking out four.

“Ryan continues to get better with each outing and by my estimation this was his best performance of the season,” added Golloway. “I am proud of Ryan because he is not caught up in being the Friday, Saturday or Sunday guy. He just wants to help the team win and he gives us a big boost with a power arm in the No. 2 slot, especially in the Big 12 portion of the schedule.”

In the third frame, Oklahoma jumped on top 2-1 with Aaron Baker's RBI double. The hit, which plated Reza, extended Baker's hitting streak to 12 games and also marked the last time UCR would be within striking distance.

Baker (2-for-5, two RBIs) and Reza (3-for-4, 3 RBIs) were two of the four Sooners that had multiple hits on Saturday. Jackson Williams was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Davis was 2-for-4 with a run scored and one driven in.

A squeeze-bunt by Aaron Ivey put OU ahead 3-1 in the fourth and the flood gates opened with a five-run sixth inning and three more runs in the seventh.

OU's offense has plated double-digit runs in three of the first five games after starting the season with 11 runs in the first four contests.

For the second straight day, Reza put together the best performance at the plate with three hits and three RBIs. In OU's 14-5 win on Friday in the series opener, the shortstop connected for a career-high four RBIs on three base hits. Since returning from a broken bone in his left hand, Reza has been one of OU's top hitters. Currently hitting .500 on the season over six games, Reza is hitting .571 (8-for-14) this week with eight RBIs.

OU also received another stellar outing from one of its relievers as Nich Conaway held UCR hitless with six strikeouts in two innings pitched. On Friday, Heath Taylor had seven punch outs and did not allow a hit in 2 2/3 innings.

Oklahoma and UC Riverside will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The game will be broadcast live by KOKC 1520 AM and will feature the Sooners' Brad Burns (1-0, 3.86 ERA) against the Highlanders' Dan Runzler (0-3, 6.00 ERA).

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