No. 24 Baseball Hosts Wildcats this Weekend

March 29, 2012

Oklahoma (16-10, 2-4) vs. Kansas State (13-11, 2-4)
Game 27	Friday, March 30, 6:30 p.m.
Game 28	Saturday, March 31, 2 p.m.
Game 29	Sunday, April 1, 1 p.m.
Location	Norman, Okla. \| L. Dale Mitchell Park (3,180)
Radio	Sooner Sports Network \| KREF 1400 AM
TV	Sooner Sports Network \| Cox Ch. 3/703 HD
Live Stats	SoonersSports.com
Promotions	"K" cards, mini ice cream helmets and more
Tickets	$8 adult/ $5 youth
Game Info	Game Notes \| 2012 Media Guide \| Baseball Blog \| Twitter

KANSAS STATE PREVIEW
• No. 24 Oklahoma (16-10, 2-4 Big 12) hosts Kansas State (13-11, 2-4) in a three-game Big 12 series this weekend. Friday's opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park while game two on Saturday gets underway at 2 p.m. Sunday's finale is slated for 1 p.m.
• OU moved back into the top 25 at No. 24 (NCBWA) after going 4-1 last week. The Sooners have won three straight and five of six.
• The Sooners return five position starters from the 2011 squad that finished 41-19 overall and third in the Big 12 (14-11).
• Kansas State returns 19 letterwinners from the 2011 team that was 36-25 overall and sixth in the Big 12 at 12-14 and lost in the NCAA Fullerton Regional. KSU lost at Nebraska Tuesday and has lost two out of three in its first two series to Texas A&M and Texas.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
• The OU radio broadcast with play-by-play announcer Toby Rowland and Chris Plank on color can be heard throughout the weekend on the Sooner Sports Network (KREF 1400 AM in Norman/OKC). Every game in 2012 is also online at SoonerSports.com.
• All three games will also be televised by the Sooner Sports Network with Chad McKee and Ross Hubbard calling the action. The games can be seen on Cox Ch. 3/703 HD in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Friday's game will also be carried on Fox College Sports.
• Live stats and a live webcast are also available on SoonerSports.com for this weekend's games.

PITCHING ROTATIONS
Game 1 - OU: LHP Jordan John (3-4, 3.14 ERA) vs. KSU: RHP Matt Applegate (2-2, 5.56 ERA)
Game 2 - OU: LHP Dillon Overton (4-0, 2.89 ERA vs. KSU: LHP Joe Flattery (3-2, 4.03 ERA)
Game 3 - OU: RHP Jonathan Gray (2-3, 5.58 ERA) vs. KSU: RHP Kayvon Bahramzadeh (3-1, 5.40 ERA)

PLAYER TO WATCH - JORDAN JOHN
Jordan John made his team-leading 13th appearance on Tuesday night for his fourth save of the season after 26 games. John ranks fourth in the Big 12 in appearances and third in saves. He also ranks in the top 15 in wins, strikeouts and earned run average. John tossed a season high 7 1/3 innings last Friday in his first start of 2012 at Texas Tech, which resulted in a loss.
2012 Season Stats: 3-4, 3.13 ERA, 4 saves, 12 BB, 34 SO

PROMOTIONS AND TICKETS
Tickets are available at the gate the day of the game (open 90 minutes prior to first pitch) or tickets can be purchased by calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at 800-456-GoOU (405-325-2424).

Throughout the weekend against KSU, the first 100 fans each day will receive “K” cards … The Sooners will sign autographs following Saturday's game and kids can run the bases after Sunday's contest … Also on Sunday, the first 250 fans will receive OU ice cream helmets.

WATCH OUT FOR KNIGHTS
The City of Norman and OU are hosting the annual Medieval Fair this weekend beginning Friday at Reaves Park down the street from L. Dale Mitchell Park. Estimated attendance of this event over the next three days is expected to go over 100,000. Please keep this in mind when attempting to get to the stadium this weekend and allow plenty of time for potential traffic delays.

OU vs. KANSAS STATE NOTES
- View page 14 for game-by-game scores in the series and career stats. OU leads the overall 146-53 and 33-12 (Big 12).
- Oklahoma has won eight of the last nine series meetings with Kansas State after dropping two games in Manhattan last season. After winning their first series since 2001, the Wildcats also took two from the Sooners in the Big 12 tournament (5-4, 4-3).
- In each of the last seven series meetings, the finale has decided the outcome of the three-game set (OU 6-1).
- The Sooners have won 22 of the last 31 games.
- OU has won every Big 12 series vs KSU except 2001 and 2011.
- In Big 12 play, eight of KSU's 12 wins were series openers.
- OU has scored in double digits in 25 of the 45 Big 12 games against KSU.
- OU is 23-10 in one-run games decided with KSU since 1962.

March 28, 2012 | Video: Golloway on Making Adjustments
The Sooners have won three straight games since falling to 0-4 in Big 12 play last Friday at Texas Tech, and have won five of the last six games. Head coach Sunny Golloway talked about some of the adjustments made in the last week after Tuesday night's win over Oral Roberts. View video below as head coach Sunny Golloway talks about that depth and the matchup with Oral Roberts at home on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

March 26, 2012 | Video: Golloway on Newcomers Providing Depth
The Sooners rallied for two victories over the weekend at Texas Tech after dropping Friday's series opener with the Red Raiders. Newcomers Brian Brightwell and Dylan Neal gave OU a spark to help in the series victory and now gives the Sooners some depth at multiple positions once Erik Ross and Tanner Toal return from injury. View video below as head coach Sunny Golloway talks about that depth and the matchup with Oral Roberts at home on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
OU won its third straight game with a 5-2 victory over Oral Roberts Tuesday in Norman. OU and ORU will face off again on April 17 in Tulsa. Tuesday was the first regular season meeting in the series since 2004, despite playing each other in each of the last two NCAA tournaments.

ON DECK
OU travels to No. 6 Texas A&M for a three-game set over Easter weekend. The Sooners and Aggies will play the series on Thursday (6:35 pm), Friday (6:35 pm) and Saturday (2 p.m.).

DOUBLE DIGITS
The Sooners are 10-4 when collecting 10 or more hits in a game with wins over Pepperdine (game 1), Hartford (game 1-2), New Mexico (all 3 game), UAPB (game 1), Air Force (game 2) and at Texas Tech (game 2-3). OU is also 2-0 when scoring double-digit runs with victories over Hartford (2/25) and New Mexico (3/3). OU is 0-3 when allowing 10-plus runs against Pepperdine (2/18), UTA and Oregon State. The Sooners are 7-10 when giving up 10 or more hits.

OVERTON AND GRAY COLLECT BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS
Two Sooner hurlers earned Big 12 baseball weekly honors on for games played March 5-11. Dillon Overton earned the Pitcher of the Week award after winning two games in that week, including a complete game win against West Virginia in the Nike Showcase. Jonathan Gray was tabbed the Newcomer of the Week after striking out 10 batters in the win over No. 9 Oregon.

JOHN NAMED BIG 12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt sophomore reliever Jordan John was named the Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 5 after tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings in two games at New Mexico. John allowed one hit in the two appearances, combined for a shutout and held opponents to a .059 batting average.

GOLLOWAY GETS WIN No. 600
On Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, the Sooners recorded an 8-3 victory, marking the 600th in head coach Sunny Golloway's career. At OU, Golloway has won 265 games, the third most in school history and just 16 behind Jack Baer, who coached OU to the 1951 National Championship. In his 14 full seasons as a DI head coach, Golloway's teams have averaged 42.14 wins per year.

OU PICKED THIRD IN BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
The Sooners were picked to finish third in the 2012 Big 12 Coaches' Preseason Poll on Feb. 14. It marks the fourth straight year that the Sooners were picked in the top four spots in the preseason poll.

Texas A&M was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2012 Big 12 baseball regular season title, followed by Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri, Oklahoma State,Texas Tech, Kansas and Kansas. A complete poll is listed on page 5.

PRESEASON TOP 25 POLLS
Oklahoma is ranked in the top 25 preseason polls for the fourth straight year, with its highest recognition coming from the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) at No. 14. OU is also ranked No. 15 by the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' poll, No. 16 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 19 by Baseball America. Turn to page four for all the preseason listings.

WHO'S BACK
The Sooners return 15 letterwinners and seven starters (five position players, two pitchers) from the 2011 team. In the offseason, the coaching staff signed a class of 21 players that were ranked as high as No. 4 (Collegiate Baseball) in the recruiting rankings. View the listing of each player on page 3.

2011 DRAFT RECAP
OU will feature some new faces in 2012 as 11 Sooners were drafted last June, a mark that led the Big 12 and marks the most taken in program history, topping the 10 selected in 1998 and 1995. The 11 selections ranked in a tie for second place in the nation behind Vanderbilt (12). Arizona State, Florida and South Carolina also had 11 while Texas was eighth with nine selections. The most players drafted in the Sunny Golloway era was nine, accomplished twice in 2009 and 2006. Overall, 43 Sooners have been drafted on Golloway's watch, including at least four in every season but one. In addition, 22 of the players came to Norman undrafted in their careers. Of the 11 Sooners taken in 2011, eight were selected for the first time and two others improved their draft status by at least four rounds.

DRAFTED PLAYERS ON 2012 ROSTER
Below is a look at the nine players taken in the Major League Baseball Draft on the current roster. It spans the last three years and includes seven players taken a year ago, including two-time draftees Jonathan Gray and Steven Okert.

Chris Burgess (2011 - 30th round - Tampa Bay)
Adam Choplick (2011 - 17th round - Arizona)
Jonathan Gray (2011 - 10th round - NY Yankees and 2010 - 13th round - Kansas City)
Jordan John (2011 - 28th round - Houston)
Hunter Lockwood (2011 - 17th round - LAA Angels)
Damien Magnifico (2009 - 5th round - NY Mets)
Steven Okert (2011 - 33rd - Milwaukee and 2010 - 43rd round - Milwaukee)
Dillon Overton (2010 - 26th round - Boston)
Drake Roberts (2011 - 49th round - Minnesota)

BREAKDOWN OF 2012 SCHEDULE
- 30 home games, including four Big 12 series
- Home Big 12 series with Texas, KSU, Missouri & Baylor
- Non-conference home games vs. Oral Roberts, Air Force, Arkansas, DBU and TCU
- Other key non-conference games vs. Pepperdine, New Mexico, Connecticut, Oregon, West Virginia, Oregon State and Oklahoma State.
- Bedlam Series in Tulsa and OKC, May 4-6
- 12 opponents from 2011 NCAA Tourney (28 games)
- 8 teams that finished 2011 ranked in top 25
- Seven foes with 40-plus wins a year ago
- Two 2010 CWS participants (Texas & Texas A&M)
- Three other Super Regional teams (DBU, Oregon State and Connecticut)
- First time opponents in Oregon, Connecticut, West Virginia, Alabama State, Hartford and Samford

BASEBALL ON KREF 1400 AM IN 2012
The 2012 season marks the second with KREF 1400 AM serving as the flagship station of Sooner baseball. The partnership provides expanded coverage for OU fans to listen to 50-plus regular season games live over the air and extends into postseason play.

Additionally, 18 of the 24 Big 12 games are set to be carried on the Sooners Sports' Network, enabling fans to listen to OU baseball on various stations across the state starting on March 30 against Kansas State. Overall, 23 games will be carried on the network with non-conference games against Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts and TCU.

The entire 56-game regular season schedule will also be broadcast live on the internet via Oklahoma All-Access, OU's premium content site.

2012 TELEVISION SCHEDULE
The University of Oklahoma announced the television schedule thru the month of March for the 2012 Sooner baseball schedule. Eight baseball games produced by the Sooner Sports Network will be televised in the state of Oklahoma on Cox Communications Cable (Cox Ch. 3/703 HD) and nationwide on DirecTV via Fox College Sports (Ch. 617 or 623).

Each of the games will be televised live from Norman with local sports personality Chad McKee calling the play-by-play and additional contests will be added throughout the season. Please check your local cable or satellite provide for coverage in your area.

The Sooners are also scheduled to appear in two games on Fox Sports Southwest. The first of the two nationally televised games will be played on Friday, May 4 in Tulsa, Okla., for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Bedlam Series. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at ONEOK Field in downtown Tulsa. The second game comes during the final Big 12 series of the year against Baylor. The Sooners and Bears will tangle at 2 p.m. on Saturday May 12 on FSN.

Sooner Sports Network-Cox Ch. 3 in OKC/Tulsa)
March 16 - Texas (6:30 p.m.)
March 17 - Texas (2 p.m.)
March 18 - Texas (1 p.m.)
March 20 - Air Force (6:30 p.m.)
March 21 - Air Force (3 p.m.)
March 30 - Kansas State (6:30 p.m.)
March 31- Kansas State (2 p.m.)

Fox Sports Southwest
May 4 - vs. Oklahoma State (7 p.m. in Tulsa)
May 12 - Baylor (2 p.m.)

ESPNU
April 7 - at Texas A&M (3:30 p.m.)

SOONERS INK 15 FOR 2013 SEASON
Oklahoma signed 15 student athletes as part of the 2013 incoming class back in November.

The OU coaching staff inked 11 high school players, including four of the state of Oklahoma's best in Jacob Evans, a two-way player from Broken Arrow H.S., Taylor Hawkins, a catcher from Carl Albert H.S., Carson McPherson, a left-handed pitcher from Ardmore H.S., and Colt Pickens, an infielder/outfielder from Yukon H.S.

The Sooners also plucked three of the best south of the Red River in Kolbey Carpenter (infielder from West ISD), Ralph Garza (RHP/INF from New Braunfels H.S.) and Huntey Haley (INF/OF from Central Heights H.S.), while adding Justin Burba (OF from Wichita Campus High), the No. 3 recruit from the state of Kansas.

Overall, 11 of the 15 recruits are from the high school ranks while the Sooners also added four junior college players.

Craig Aiken | OF | R/R | 5-10 | 160
Coppell, Texas (Coppell H.S.)

Justin Burba | OF/1B | L/L | 6-0 | 185
Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Campus H.S.)

Kolbey Carpenter | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 175
Waco, Texas (West H.S.)

Ralph Garza Jr. | RHP/INF | R/R | 6-3 | 185
New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels Senior)

Hunter Haley | INF/OF | R/R | 5-10 | 175
Nacogdoches, Texas (Central Heights H.S.)

Taylor Hawkins | C | R/R | 5-11 | 185
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Carl Albert H.S.)

Kyle Hayes | INF/RHP | R\L | 6-2 | 210
Santee, Calif. (Santana H.S.)

Anthony Hermelyn | INF | R/R | 6-1 | 200
McKinney, Texas (McKinney H.S.)

Hayden Jones | 1B/LHP | L/L | 6-1 | 190
Houston, Texas (Langham Creek H.S.)

Hector Lorenzana | INF | R/R | 5-11 | 190
San Diego, Calif. (Howard College)

Carson McPherson | LHP | R/R | 6-0 | 190
Ardmore, Okla. (Ardmore H.S.)