Sooners Set for ASU and Pac-12 Challenge

Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge | Feb. 18-22 | Arizona

Pitching Match-Ups
Game	Oklahoma	Opponent
Wednesday vs. ASU	LHP-Jeffrey Curran, Sr. 0-0, 0.00, 0 K	RHP-Seth Martinez, So. 0-0, 0.00, 1 K
Thursday vs. WSU	RHP-Robert Tasin, RSr. 1-0, 0.00, 3 Ks	RHP-Sean Hartnett, Sr. 0-1, 9.00, 6 Ks
Friday vs. UW	RHP-Jake Elliott, So. 1-0, 0.00, 4 Ks	RHP-Tyler Davis, Sr. 1-0, 2.57, 4 Ks
Saturday vs. OSU	RHP-Alec Hansen, So. 0-1, 12.00, 4 Ks	TBA
Sunday vs. Utah	RHP-Corey Copping, Jr. 1-0, 1.29, 6 Ks	RHP-Nolan Stouder, Jr. 0-0, 4.50, 4 Ks

On the Air
Radio	1400 AM \| 1560 AM Derek Diesner Brendan Flynn
Video	Pac-12.com (Wednesday) SoonerSports.tv

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma heads to Arizona for a taste of spring training beginning with a road game at Arizona State on Wednesday at 7:30 pm CT. The Sooners stick around Phoenix for the Big 12/Pac-12 Challenge spread out around various Cactus League sites for games against Washington State, Washington, Oregon State and Utah.

Oklahoma went 3-2 at its home Sooner Baseball Classic with a pair of wins over SIU Edwardsville and a 6-1 decision over Notre Dame on opening day. At the top of the order, newcomer Alex Wise took over the leadoff spot and hit .381 (8-for-21) with eight runs scored and a three-run homer; contributing to his five RBI. Junior center fielder Craig Aikin, the Sooner leadoff hitter the past two seasons, hit .400 (8-for-20) from the two-hole with eight runs, two doubles and two stolen bases. Junior Anthony Hermelyn drove in a team-best seven runs, including a career-high four against SIUE on Saturday, as he hit .333 (6-for-18) with two doubles. Oklahoma's pitching staff held opponents to a .211 batting average and held a 2.20 earned run average. Senior lefty Jeffrey Curran (0-0) is scheduled to start vs. ASU. He pitched three scoreless in his one outing.

Scouting the Sun Devils

No. 9 Arizona State opened with a 2-1 series win over Oklahoma State at home, including a 4-3 win in 10 innings on opening night. The Sun Devils returned to the postseason in 2014 as the two-seed in the San Luis Obispo Regional; finishing with a 33-24 record. First baseman Christopher Beall, the Sun Devils' top returning hitter at .305 a year ago, went 2-for-7 with just one start against OSU. RHP Seth Martinez will get the start on Wednesday. He has thrown two-shutout innings of relief. Last year he went 5-0 with a 4.32 ERA in 50 innings of work, including seven starts.

All-Time vs. ASU

Arizona State holds a commanding 48-19 lead in the all-time series that dates back to 1963. The last Oklahoma win came in Tempe in 2006; 15-8. Twice the two teams have played in a NCAA Regional' most recently in 2006 and have met in three College World Series. The Sooners bested the Sun Devils twice in 1994, by scores of 4-3 and 6-1, en route to claiming their second National Championship.

Value in Utility

Junior Anthony Hermelyn has seen a drastic change in his responsibilities from his freshman season when he started 48 games behind the dish. As a sophomore he split time between catcher and first base. This season he has added third base to his defensive duties as he earned starts at all three positions opening weekend.

Utility Blue Print

Junior Kolbey Carpenter has been a steady performer in two-plus seasons at OU. He has appeared in games at five different positions and has started every opening day since his freshman season at a different position; 1B, DH, 2B.