No. 9 Baseball Welcomes Kansas

No. 9 Sooners (33-12, 11-7) vs. Kansas (31-15, 10-8)
Location	Norman, Okla. \| L. Dale Mitchell Park
Game 46	Friday, May 1 - 6:30 p.m.
Game 47	Saturday, May 2 - 2 p.m.
Game 48	Sunday, May 3 - 1 p.m.
Tickets \| Promos	OU Ticket Office \| Weekend Promotions
Radio	KOKC 1520 AM - all three games
Live Stats	SoonersSports.com
Webcast	Oklahoma All-Access - All three games - Free on Friday
Internet Audio	Oklahoma All-Access - All three games
Game Information	Game Notes \| 2009 Media Guide

NORMAN, Okla. -- No. 9 Oklahoma (33-12 overall, 11-7 Big 12) hosts Kansas (31-15, 10-8) this weekend in a battle of two of the Big 12's top five teams. Only one game separates the Sooners in second place and the Jayhawks in fifth.

the Sooners' four-game winning streak was halted on Tuesday at No. 8 Arkansas. In Big 12 play, OU is coming off a 3-0 sweep at then-No. 9 Baylor. Kansas recently swept Chicago State in a midweek doubleheader in Lawrence on Tuesday, two days removed from taking two of three from Nebraska in Big 12 play. Other series wins for KU include Texas and Oklahoma State. KU lost conference sets to Texas A&M, Missouri and Texas Tech.

Kansas was picked to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll after finishing ninth in 2008. The Jayhawks were 30-27 overall and 9-18 in Big 12 play and return 16 letterwinners from the 2008 squad.

KANSAS SERIES INFORMATION
Overall:  OU leads 115-67-1 (since 1942)
In Big 12 play: OU leads 23-13
In Norman:  OU leads 50-23 (since 1964)
In Lawrence:  OU leads 42-30 (since 1964)
Last 10 games: KU leads 7-3
Last Meeting: KU won 9-4, May 4, 2008 (Lawrence, Kan.)
Last Series:  KU won 3-0 (17-15, 13-10, 9-4), May 2-4, 2008 (Lawrence, Kan.)

GAME 46 - Friday, May 1
First Pitch:  6:30 p.m. CST
OU Starter:  Andrew Doyle - RHP (6-3, 3.76)
KU Starter:  Shaeffer Hall - LHP (3-4, 3.82)
Radio:  Sooner Sports Network - KOKC 1520 AM
Internet Audio: Oklahoma All-Access
Live Video:  Free on SoonerSports.com
Live Stats:  SoonerSports.com

GAME 47 - Saturday, May 2
First Pitch:  2 p.m. CST
OU Starter:  Garrett Richards - RHP (6-1, 6.70)
KU Starter:  T.J. Walz - RHP (5-1, 3.49)
Radio:  Sooner Sports Network - KOKC 1520 AM
Internet Audio: Oklahoma All-Access
Live Video:  Oklahoma All-Access
Live Stats:  SoonerSports.com

GAME 48 - Sunday, May 3
First Pitch:  1 p.m. CST
OU Starter:  TBA
KU Starter:  Lee Ridenhour - RHP (4-2, 3.29)
Radio:  Sooner Sports Network - KOKC 1520 AM
Internet Audio: Oklahoma All-Access
Live Video:  Oklahoma All-Access
Live Stats:  SoonerSports.com

BROADCAST INFORMATION
This weekend's games will be available on the Sooner Sports Network (KOKC 1520 AM) with Chuck Kelly and DeWayne Vaughn providing the on-air talent. Live audio can also be found on the internet via Oklahoma All-Access. On Friday, a free video webcast is being offered to fans as an introduction to the quality product available in Oklahoma All-Access. All webcasts of home games include SoonerVision's three-camera perspective which was added this year with the installation of the new video board. Live audio accompanies the video to give fans complete coverage of Sooner baseball.

PLAYER TO WATCH - CHASE ANDERSON
The Sooners' reliever was tabbed the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week and was named to CBF's “National All-Star Lineup” for his performance in week 10. Anderson made three relief appearances and held Wichita State and Baylor scoreless over 7 1/3 innings with one hit and 10 Ks.

PROMOTIONS
On Friday, the first 500 will receive OU mini bats and they can register to win a $100 Circle-K Gift Card … On Saturday, the Sooners will host Military Appreciation Day … The first 500 fans will receive camouflage bandanas … Sunday is Sooner Kids Club Day and there will be a special giveaway for Kids Club members.

TICKETS
Seats remain for the Kansas series and gates will open 90 minutes prior to first pitch. Tickets are available at the gate, online or by calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 456-GoOU. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday on the plaza level of the Asp Avenue parking garage.

MORE ON THE OU-KANSAS SERIES
The Sooners have dropped the last two series with the Jayhawks, including the last three-game set at L. Dale Mitchell Park in 2007. Last season, Kansas swept the three games in Lawrence for just its third series win in Big 12 play against OU (2003, 2007 and 2008) in nine chances. Below is a closer look at the series between the Sooners and Jayhawks.

- In Big 12 play, OU has won 10 of 12 series openers (lost openers and the overall series in 2003 and 2008).
- KU's 2008 sweep was its first in Big 12 play vs. OU. The Sooners have swept the Jayhawks three times (1997, 2001 and 2004) since the Big 12 formed in 1997.
- Teams have met at least three times every year since 1985.
- Sooners have scored 10 or more runs versus the Jayhawks in 13 of the 36 Big 12 meetings.
- 18 games have been decided by three runs or less in the Big 12 era (OU leads 13-5), including five one-run games where the Sooners are 5-0.

LAST TIME OUT
The No. 9 Sooners suffered an 8-7 loss in extra innings at No.8 Arkansas. OU led 7-5 after the top of the ninth, but surrendered two runs in the bottom half and the game winner in the tenth.

UP NEXT
OU remains home to host Southern Utah on Monday, May 4. The Sooners will play at UTA the following day before preparing for the Bedlam Series, presented by the Oklahoman and Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance, over the weekend.

OU IN BIG 12 RANKS
The Sooners can be found up and down the Big 12 statistics for overall games released on April 30. The OU offense leads all Big 12 teams in batting average (.329), runs (395), hits (509), homers (77), RBIs (363), on-base percentage (.417) and slugging percentage (.561).

HERNANDEZ UP FOR SHORTSTOP AWARD
Junior Bryant Hernandez was tabbed by the College Baseball Foundation and Mizuno to the initial watch list for the 2009 Brooks Wallace Award. For the first time since its creation in 2004, the Wallace Award will honor the country's top shortstop. Previously, the Wallace Award was given to the national player of the year. The award changed its focus following the creation of the College Baseball Awards Show, in collaboration with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Dick Howser Trophy Committee. The Howser Trophy has recognized the best overall player in the country for 23 years and will continue to do so. Both the Wallace Award and the Howser Award will be presented as part of the College Baseball Awards Show on July 2 in Lubbock.

DUKE MOVING UP SAVES LIST
Ryan Duke is having one of the best seasons by an OU closer in school history. He is tied for the Big 12 lead with 10 saves, a mark that ranks in a tie for third all-time in a single season at OU. His 10 career saves ranks fifth all-time. Duke also has two wins, one of those coming against Washington State, one of his two blown saves on the year (Arkansas the other).

HOME SUCCESS
Oklahoma is 19-2 at home this season after outscoring opponents 205-94. The Sooners started the year 14-0 at home and won its 14th home game in as many chances on March 29 against Nebraska. The perfect start was the second best by an OU team at home. The winning streak was snapped by Nebraska later that day and was at 16 games dating back to last season. OU also lost to Texas Tech on April 11. In 1974, OU started that campaign 17-0.

BEST HOME RECORDS?
Since the Sooners started playing at least 20 home games a year in 1972, only two squads have finished with two losses on the season. The 1995 College World Series team is the last to do so with a 25-2 home mark. The 1974 Sooners also went to play in Omaha and finished with a 19-2 mark at home.

TOUGH REMAINING SCHEDULE
OU is 5-4 in its last nine games while eight of those games were against ranked competition. With the exception of UT-Arlingon and Southern Utah, each of the Sooners' final 11 regular season games will come against teams ranked in the top 25 at some point this season. Included in those final 12 games are three against No. 16 Texas A&M. Throughout the season, OU will have faced 12 opponents, for a total of 27 games, that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament, including nine teams that finished the season ranked in the top 25.

HOME RUN NOTES
With three home runs on Tuesday at Arkansas, the Sooners have 77 this season, a mark that already has surpassed the season totals in each of the last 10 years (OU had a school-record 114 in 1998).

OU had 10 homers in the Baylor series, marking the third time in 2009 that it has connected for 10 or more homers in a Big 12 series (15 at Kansas State and 12 vs. Nebraska).

OU has homered in 18 of the last 22 games with 52 in that span ... That total is more than six Big 12 teams.

The Sooners have 44 homers in Big 12 play, marking the most in conference play since the school-record 50 in 1998.

OU has homered in all but 11 games this season with 16 multiple-homer games, including eight in Big 12 play. OU has three or more homers in 10 games this season.

The Sooners have hit back-to-back homers on five occasions this season (Listed in italics to the right).

Aaron Baker is the fourth Sooner to have multiple homers in a game this season (J. Johnson, C. Johnson and J.T. Wise). He is one of three Big 12 players this year to have two multiple home run games (3/30 vs. Neb. and 4/26 at Baylor).

The Sooners had two home runs in the first inning and three more in the seventh on April 26 at Baylor, marking the ninth and 10th time this season they have hit multiple homers in a frame.

With two outs on the board, OU has 30 homers this season.

The Sooners tied a Big 12 record with 11 home runs during the series finale against Kansas State. OU hit five dingers in the first inning and four more in the seventh.

OU has 18 homers this season that led off an inning, including four from Jaime Johnson that began a game. Overall, OU has 33 solo blasts this season.

After 45 games last season, the Sooners had 39 home runs.

OU has 16 home runs this season after the sixth inning.

J.T. Wise (15) and Aaron Baker (13) rank first and third, respectively, in home runs in the Big 12. Wise's total is the most by a Sooner since Jason Franz hit 15 in 2002.

Jamie Johnson hit his 10th and 11th home runs last week to join Baker (13) and Wise (14) as the first trio of Sooners to have double digit homers in the same season since 1999 (Casey Bookout-16, Rich Park-11, Bobby Walters-11 and
Jeff Bajenaru-10)

Despite the 1.71 HR/game average this season, the 2009 Sooners are still behind the school record of 114 homers hit in 1998 across 62 games, a 1.8 average per game. That team had 95 dingers after 45 games.

Since the schedule expanded in 1972, the Sooners have more homers this season than 30 OU teams since that year.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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