OU Baseball Notebook Feb. 17

Overall Record: 2-1

National Rankings: No. 15 by Perfect Game; No. 16 by Baseball America; No. 23 by D1Baseball

LAST WEEK RESULTS: 2-1
L 0-6 vs. Virginia (Pensacola, Fla.)
W 7-2 vs. Virginia (Pensacola, Fla.)
W 5-1 vs. Virginia (Pensacola, Fla.)

THIS WEEK SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, Feb. 18 vs. Texas Southern – 3 p.m. (Norman, Okla.)
Wednesday, Feb. 19 vs. Texas Southern – 3 p.m. (Norman, Okla.)
Friday, Feb. 21 vs. Illinois State – 3 p.m. (Norman, Okla.)
Saturday, Feb. 22 vs. Illinois State – DH at Noon (Norman, Okla.)
Sunday, Feb. 23 vs. Illinois State – 1 p.m. (Norman, Okla.

KEY NOTES OF THE WEEK

Oklahoma won at least two games on opening weekend for the second straight year and seven of the last eight years. The Wahoos Classic was a neutral site, though the Sooners were the visitors in each game. OU opened on the road in 2018 at a Coastal Carolina/Myrtle Beach tournament, but the last time it opened a season at a neutral site (no part of the event on campus) was in 2004 at the Coca-Cola Classic Spring Tournament in Surprise, Ariz.
Eleven different Sooners recorded a hit in the series against Virginia and eight different players scored a run in the series against Virginia. Junior first baseman Tyler Hardman led the way with four hits while senior catcher Brady Lindsly, junior outfielder Tanner Tredaway and freshman third baseman Peyton Graham recorded three apiece.
A total of eight players made their Oklahoma debuts in the season-opening series. Graham started all three games at third base, freshman outfielder Kendall Pettis started the third game and junior Dane Acker earned the start on the mound in the third game. Senior pitcher Brad Demco, junior outfielder Vinny Bologna, junior pitcher Carson Carter, sophomore infielder Trent Brown and freshman infielder Logan Kohler all saw action in the series.
Graham was the first true freshman to start on the infield in a season opener since 2018 when current junior pitcher Cade Cavalli started at first base. Senior shortstop Brandon Zaragoza also started at shortstop as a true freshman in 2017.
The Sooners did not commit an error in three games and turned two double plays, including one to end the eighth inning in the nightcap Saturday. Junior catcher Justin Mitchell threw out two runners attempting to steal second on Friday.
Hardman hit .308 (4-13) with a home run and four RBIs. He provided the winning runs and the insurance in the series-clinching victory Saturday evening, smashing OU's first home run of the season to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning. He added a two-run single in the top of the ninth to make it a 5-1 lead.
Lindsly hit .375 (3-8) in two games, driving a double and scoring twice in OU's 7-2 victory Saturday afternoon.
Graham recorded three hits, batting .333 (3-9) with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in his first collegiate action. He also made two putouts and eight assists at third base.
Pettis recorded a hit in his first collegiate at bat, beating out an infield single, then singled again to shortstop in the sixth inning. He also made two putouts in the outfield.
Zaragoza recorded three RBIs and converted 10 fielding chances at shortstop, including four putouts and two double plays.
Acker was outstanding in his OU debut in the second game on Saturday, retiring the first eight batters he faced and allowing no hits until the fifth inning. He finished his outing after 5.0 innings with six strikeouts and no walks, allowing a run on one hit.
Sophomore Wyatt Olds also turned in a fantastic outing Saturday evening in relief of Acker, throwing 3.0 scoreless innings and allowing two hits and three walks with six strikeouts to earn the victory.
Junior Zack Matthews threw 2.2 scoreless innings in OU's first win Saturday afternoon, allowing only three baserunner with two strikeouts.
Senior Jason Ruffcorn pitched in both games Saturday, striking out three over 2.0 innings. He entered the nightcap Saturday with two runners on base and retired all three batters he faced, earning his first save of the season.
Junior Ledgend Smith was perfect in two relief appearances, totaling 1.2 innings over Friday night (0.2 inning, strikeout) and Saturday afternoon (1.0 inning).

Players Mentioned

Dane Acker

Vinny Bologna

Trent Brown

Carson Carter

Cade Cavalli

Brad Demco

Peyton Graham

Tyler Hardman

Logan Kohler

Brady Lindsly

Zack Matthews

Justin Mitchell

Wyatt Olds

Kendall Pettis

Jason Ruffcorn

Ledgend Smith

Tanner Tredaway

Brandon Zaragoza

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