Completed Event: Baseball versus #16 Alabama on April 4, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 3
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Ty Russell
Hardman a Semifinalist for Golden Spikes Award
June 08, 2021 | Baseball
NORMAN – University of Oklahoma fourth-year junior first baseman Tyler Hardman has been named one of 25 semifinalists for the 43rd Golden Spikes Award, USA Baseball announced Tuesday.
The Golden Spikes Award is given each year to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
Hardman was named a second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and a first-team All-Big 12 selection this season. He batted .397 with 49 RBIs, 49 runs scored, 12 home runs, 19 doubles, 148 total bases, 34 walks and three stolen bases this season. He ranks third nationally in hits, sixth in total bases and 19th in batting average. He also ranks among the top-60 players nationally in on-base percentage (.481) and slugging (.661). Hardman, also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, started all of OU's 55 games this season and registered at least one hit in 47 games, multiple hits in 29 contests and multiple RBIs 15 times.
The Corona, Calif., native was a remarkably consistent hitter all year, maintaining a batting average above .400 for nearly two months (March 14 through May 7), and batting better than .350 from March 5 through the end of the season. He reached base in a school-record 16 consecutive plate appearances from March 9 through March 15, and he reached base in 19 of 20 plate appearances from March 9-16.
During his 16-game reached base streak, Hardman compiled 12 hits, three walks and was hit by a pitch. He hit for the cycle in Oklahoma's series-opener against Arkansas State, notching five hits (a double, home run, single, triple and single) in the process. He was the first Sooner to hit for the cycle in a game since 2010. He also doubled three times against Texas Tech on May 16, becoming the first OU player to hit three doubles in a game since 2009.
This season, Hardman became the 43rd Sooner to record at least 100 hits (206), 100 RBIs (119) and 100 runs scored (121) in his career. He notched his 200th career base hit with a three-hit contest on May 21 at Baylor. He demolished previous season bests in hits, home runs, doubles, RBIs and runs scored, as well as batting average, OBP and slugging percentage. His 24 career home runs are tied for 18th in Oklahoma history, and his 45 doubles rank 14th at OU. Hardman has played in 177 career games and made 166 starts, and has compiled a .311 career batting average, a .392 career OBP and a .497 career slugging percentage.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2021. Fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player on GoldenSpikesAward.com through the finalist round voting deadline on Tuesday, June 15.
Finalists will be announced on June 24, and the winner of the 43rd Golden Spikes Award will be named in July.
Hardman is the sixth Sooner to be named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award since USA Baseball began announcing semifinalists in 2007. He joins J.T. Wise (2009), Michael Rocha (2011), Jonathan Gray (2013), Sheldon Neuse (2016) and Steele Walker (2018) as Oklahoma players named Golden Spikes Award semifinalists.
The Golden Spikes Award is given each year to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
Hardman was named a second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and a first-team All-Big 12 selection this season. He batted .397 with 49 RBIs, 49 runs scored, 12 home runs, 19 doubles, 148 total bases, 34 walks and three stolen bases this season. He ranks third nationally in hits, sixth in total bases and 19th in batting average. He also ranks among the top-60 players nationally in on-base percentage (.481) and slugging (.661). Hardman, also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, started all of OU's 55 games this season and registered at least one hit in 47 games, multiple hits in 29 contests and multiple RBIs 15 times.
The Corona, Calif., native was a remarkably consistent hitter all year, maintaining a batting average above .400 for nearly two months (March 14 through May 7), and batting better than .350 from March 5 through the end of the season. He reached base in a school-record 16 consecutive plate appearances from March 9 through March 15, and he reached base in 19 of 20 plate appearances from March 9-16.
During his 16-game reached base streak, Hardman compiled 12 hits, three walks and was hit by a pitch. He hit for the cycle in Oklahoma's series-opener against Arkansas State, notching five hits (a double, home run, single, triple and single) in the process. He was the first Sooner to hit for the cycle in a game since 2010. He also doubled three times against Texas Tech on May 16, becoming the first OU player to hit three doubles in a game since 2009.
This season, Hardman became the 43rd Sooner to record at least 100 hits (206), 100 RBIs (119) and 100 runs scored (121) in his career. He notched his 200th career base hit with a three-hit contest on May 21 at Baylor. He demolished previous season bests in hits, home runs, doubles, RBIs and runs scored, as well as batting average, OBP and slugging percentage. His 24 career home runs are tied for 18th in Oklahoma history, and his 45 doubles rank 14th at OU. Hardman has played in 177 career games and made 166 starts, and has compiled a .311 career batting average, a .392 career OBP and a .497 career slugging percentage.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2021. Fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player on GoldenSpikesAward.com through the finalist round voting deadline on Tuesday, June 15.
Finalists will be announced on June 24, and the winner of the 43rd Golden Spikes Award will be named in July.
Hardman is the sixth Sooner to be named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award since USA Baseball began announcing semifinalists in 2007. He joins J.T. Wise (2009), Michael Rocha (2011), Jonathan Gray (2013), Sheldon Neuse (2016) and Steele Walker (2018) as Oklahoma players named Golden Spikes Award semifinalists.
Players Mentioned
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