Reza and Taylor Sweep Big 12 Honors

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma juniors Aaron Reza (SS) and Heath Taylor (LHP) swept the Big 12 Player of the Week awards for games played from Feb. 27 through March 4, the league office announced on Monday. Reza shared player of the week honors with Blake Stouffer from Texas A&M while Taylor was the conference's top pitcher last week.

The accolades are career firsts for both Sooners and the first of the season for Oklahoma. It also marks the first time that Oklahoma has swept both awards within the same week since the inception of the Big 12. The last time two Sooners were tabbed conference player and pitcher of the week occurred during the 1994 season when Mark Redman and Rich Hills were honored by the Big Eight (May 19).

Since Reza's return to the lineup, the Sooners are 7-0 as the junior is hitting .520 with 11 RBIs. Last week, in four wins against ranked opponents (No. 11 Wichita State and No. 20 UC Riverside), Reza hit .588 (10-for-17) with nine RBIs. In that span, Reza was a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts and connected for his second career home run. Additionally, he tied his career high for hits (3) in two separate games and connected for a career-high four RBIs on March 2 against the Highlanders. He also scored five runs and recorded an .824 slugging percentage and a .632 on-base percentage last week.

The Sooners' shortstop returned to the starting lineup on Friday, Feb. 23 against Western Illinois after missing the first six games with a broken bone in his left hand. Reza currently leads the Sooners in batting average (.520), slugging percentage (.720) and on-base percentage (.571) and is tied for second on the club with 11 RBIs.

Taylor, a transfer from Vernon Junior College, has been impressive out of the Sooners' bullpen this season. In two appearances against No. 20 UC Riverside last week, Taylor helped OU to two victories with 6 1/3 innings pitched. The reliever struck out 11 batters and limited the opposition to zero runs on one hit and three walks.

On Friday, March 2, Taylor set a career high with seven strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Taylor did not allow a run or a hit in the appearance. On Sunday, March 4, Taylor lasted a season-best 3 2/3 innings and struck out four batters to record his fi rst victory as a Sooner. Taylor surrendered one hit and did not allow a run for his second straight appearance.

On the season, Taylor is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in five appearances and 12 1/3 innings pitched. The hurler has surrendered seven hits and ranks third on the team with 15 strikeouts.

The Sooners will conclude the current nine-game home stand with two games this week. OU will host Creighton in a two-game set on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are slated to begin at 3 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

2007 BIG 12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 12 - Kyle Russell, Texas, So., OF
Feb. 19 - Doug Thennis, Texas Tech, Jr., 3B/LF
Feb. 26 - Jake Opitz, Nebraska, Jr., 2B
Mar. 5 - Aaron Reza, Oklahoma, Jr. SS
Mar. 5 - Blake Stouffer, Texas A&M, Jr., 3B

2007 BIG 12 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 12 - Oliver Odle, Oklahoma State, Sr., RHP
Feb. 19 - Adrian Alaniz, Texas, Jr., RHP
Feb. 26 - Kyle Nicholson, Texas A&M, Sr., RHP
Mar. 5 - Hear Taylor, Oklahoma, Jr., LHP

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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