Ruffcorn Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week

NORMAN – Oklahoma baseball junior Jason Ruffcorn was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after earning three saves last week, the league office announced Monday.

Ruffcorn appeared in all five games last week and closed out the Sooners' Big 12 series sweep of Kansas with saves on Saturday and Sunday. He held OU's 4-3 lead on Saturday night, then got the final five outs on Sunday to preserve the 10-5 victory. He entered that game with the bases loaded and a two-run lead in the eighth inning and rolled a double play before facing the minimum in the ninth inning.

On Wednesday, the Cedar Park, Texas, native recorded the final four outs in Oklahoma's 8-6 win at New Mexico to secure the midweek road two-game sweep. He pitched 5.1 shutout innings in relief across five games, leading the Sooners to a 5-0 week. The Texas A&M transfer has six saves and a 1.08 ERA in 15 appearances this season, tying for the Big 12 lead in saves.

This is Ruffcorn's first Big 12 weekly honor and the fourth for the Sooners this year. Tyler Hardman (Player of the Week) and Nathan Wiles (Pitcher of the Week) took home honors on Feb. 25, and Levi Prater was named Pitcher of the Week on March 11.

No. 22 Oklahoma (21-4) plays at Oklahoma State (15-7) in a non-conference Bedlam matchup Tuesday in Stillwater, Okla. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.