No. 8 Sooners and No. 18 Cowboys kick off series at 7:45 p.m. Friday
April 14, 2011
WEEKEND PREVIEW
• No. 8 Oklahoma (25-8, 6-5 Big 12) and No. 18 Oklahoma State (25-8, 8-4) meet in the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Bedlam Series.
• Friday’s game in Tulsa is slated for a 7:35 p.m. first pitch. Saturday’s games will be played in Oklahoma City (7:05 p.m. & 4:05 p.m.)
• OU is ranked No. 8 by the NCBWA, No. 10 by USA Today/Coaches, No. 14 by Baseball America and No. 16 by Collegiate Baseball.
• The Sooners return seven position starters from the 2010 squad that finished 50-18 and advanced to the program’s 10th CWS.
• Oklahoma State returns 14 letterwinners from the 2010 team that finished 29-26 overall and 10th in the Big 12 (8-19).
• OSU is third in the standings ahead of OU and second in hitting (.304), led by sophomore Dane Phillips (.404, 3 HR, 26 RBI)
• Cowboys’ Rotation: GM1 - LHP Mike Strong (3-0, 2.41 ERA); GM2 - RHP Brad Propst (6-1, 1.25 ERA); GM3 - TBA
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• The OU broadcast with Chuck Kelly (play-by-play) and Ross Hubbard (color) can be heard throughout the weekend on the Sooners’ Flagship station, KREF 1400 AM and at SoonerSports.com. Air time is 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
• The Cowboy Sports Network will televise game one and two with Chad McKee and Dave Garrett on commentary. Sunday’s game will be televised by the Sooner Sports Network with Brian Brinkley and Casey Bookout calling the action. All three games can be seen on Cox Ch. 3 in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Live stats are available online at the baseball schedule page on SoonerSports.com.
OU ROTATION
No. 1 RHP Michael Rocha (7-1, 1.02 ERA, 9 BB, 50 SO)
No. 2 RHP Burch Smith (5-2, 3.83 ERA, 13 BB, 51 SO)
No. 3 LHP Dillon Overton (5-3, 1.45 ERA, 17 BB, 35 SO)
PLAYER TO WATCH - TYLER OGLE
The Sooners’ catcher has hit safely in eight of the last nine games, including 11 hits and five RBIs. He had two base hits out of the leadoff spot against Oklahoma State on April 5 and has since moved back into the cleanup slot. Ogle is tied for fifth in the Big 12 with five home runs, ranks sixth with 29 runs scored and ninth on-base percentage (.462) and 10th in slugging percentage (.538).
2011 Season Stats: .321, 5 HR, 22 RBI
BEDLAM SERIES
Since 1942, OSU leads 135-128. Oklahoma won last year’s series, 2-1, and the 2011 non-conference game (8-3) in Norman. OU has won six out of the last nine games and each of the last two Big 12 series. Below is a closer look at the rivalry between the Sooners and Cowboys.
- Since 1997, 30 of the 49 games have been decided by three runs or less (OU leads 18-12). Fourteen of those games were one-run decisions where OU is 9-5.
- The 2011 meeting marks the fifth straight season that at least one of the teams is ranked in the top 25. The 2006 season is the last time both teams entered a three- game set ranked (No. 8 OU vs. No. 24 OSU).
- The two have split the 14 Big 12 series meetings since 1997.
- Seven of those Big 12 regular season series have been decided in the third game where OU is 5-2.
- Since Big 12 play began, the winner in Tulsa has gone on to win the series in 10 of the 14 chances.
- OU is 11-9 in games played in Tulsa (1991-present).
- The Sooners won nine of the first 10 meetings in Tulsa, but have lost eight of the last 10. Won in 2009 and 2010.
- Since the series shifted to its current setting (game one) in Tulsa and games two and three in OKC) in 1991, OU is 15-22 in games played in Oklahoma City.
- Each team has won 12 games during the regular season at Redhawks Field since it opened in 1998.
- Sunny Golloway has coached in 49 Bedlam games as an assistant coach and head coach (OU is 23-26 in those games).
MORE ON BEDLAM
While OU has more in-state players than OSU by a 12-9 advantage, OSU has more experience in games played in the series among those players (22-20). Six of OU’s 12 in-state players are freshmen, while OSU has one. The 12 OU players from the state include Chris Ellison (Norman), Cale Ellis (Tonkawa), Casey Coyle (Oklahoma City), Caleb Bushyhead (Mannford), Max White (Durant), Drew Dahlberg (Edmond), Dillon Overton (Weatherford), Tyson Seng (Enid), Cayle Shambaugh (Jay), Drew Krittenbrink (Okarche), Ryan Gibson (Yukon), and Cale Coshow (Edmond).
VIDEO: GOLLOWAY ON BEDLAM
Following the 13-6 win over TCU on Tuesday night, OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway talked about the importance of taking that momentum into this weekend against No. 18 Oklahoma State. Golloway also talked about the rivarly featuring two top 25 teams again. View video from Tuesday's postgame from Coach Golloway.
ON DECK
OU begins a five-game home stand next week, featuring a pair of midweek games against Dallas Baptist (April 19) and Bacone College (April 20). The Sooners return to Big 12 play over the weekend against Nebraska (April 22-24).
LAST TIME OUT
The Sooners posted a 13-6 victory over No. 9 TCU on Tuesday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park. It marked the Sooners’ seventh straight win in the series. OU and TCU meet again in Fort Worth on April 26.
OU ADDS MAKEUP GAME TO SCHEDULE
The University of Oklahoma baseball team announced the addition of a home game to the 2011 regular season schedule on Monday. The Sooners will host Bacone (Shawnee, Okla.) on Wednesday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the game at L. Dale Mitchell Park is free. The game was added to the schedule to make up for the contest lost at Arkansas on March 29.
MISC NOTES
- After 33 games, OU leads the Big 12 in batting average (.330), and ranks fourth in earned run average (3.08) and fifth in fielding percentage (.975).
- OU leads the Big 12 with 29 home runs, at least double the total recorded by four teams.
- OU leads the conference with 266 runs, the next closest team, Texas Tech, has scored 228 runs. The Sooners lead the Big 12 in hits with 376 and TTU and OSU are second with 347.
- The Sooner offense has outscored the opposition 266-122.
- OU has outscored opponents 39-15, 39-19, 39-10 and 44-12 in the third, fifth, sixth and eighth innings, respectively.
- Garrett Buechele, the Big 12 Player of the Week on Feb. 21 and 28, leads the Big 12 with 55 hits and 42 RBIs (5th and 9th in nation, respectively) ... Ranks second in Big 12 with a .401 batting average and seven homers ... Also ranks third with 80 total bases, fourth in slugging percentage (.584) and fifth with a .462 on-base percentage.
- In 20 of the Sooners’ 33 starts, the hurlers have lasted at least five innings, including four complete games by Jordan John, Bobby Shore and Michael Rocha (2). OU owns four of the 13 complete games tossed in 2011.
- Seven freshmen have seen playing time and 10 newcomers overall have taken the field.
- Michael Rocha and the Sooner bullpen limited the Tribe to one hit on Feb.18, the fewest allowed since OU’s last no-hitter, a combined effort on March 9, 2005 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff
- Rocha struck out 13 batters in the March 18 shutout vs.Texas A&M, the most by a Sooner since Daniel McCutchen also sat down 13 Aggies on April 7, 2006.
- Rocha, a two-time 2011 Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, has lasted at least seven innings in seven of eight starts with five or more strikeouts in seven outings. Rocha has also limited the opposition to three hits or less in four of his starts … He leads the Big 12 with a 1.02 ERA (seventh nationally) and a 1.58 opponent batting average ... Tied for the Big 12 lead with two complete games and ranks second with 61.2 innings pitched and seven wins (second nationally).
DUKE TAKES OVER CAREER SAVES LEAD
Ryan Duke, who is on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list for the second straight year, recorded his first save of 2011 on March 18 vs. Texas A&M and moved into sole possession of first place on OU’s all-time saves list (below). Duke finished with 12 saves, the nation’s 12th best total, in 2010 and ranked second in the Big 12. He led the Big 12 in saves with 16 in 2009 (ranked sixth in the nation), the second most in a single season by a Sooner (Jeff Bajenaru - 20, 2000). He is the first Sooner in OU history to have 10 or more saves in two seasons.
1. 31 - Ryan Duke (2008-present)
2. 28 - Jeff Bajenaru 1999-00)
SCORING FIRST
OU is 16-3 when scoring first this season, including a 5-2 mark in Big 12 play. The Sooners have scored first in five of the last seven contests with a 5-2 record.
THE BIG INNING
OU has hit through the batting order 17 times in 33 games. OU had 23 such occasions in 2010. In addition, the Sooners have plated five or more runs in nine different innings, including 14 in the eighth inning on Feb. 22 vs. UAPB. The 14 runs tied an OU record for most scored in an inning with the 1998 Sooners that plated 14 in one frame against Emporia State on Feb. 17.
ONE-RUN GAMES
The Sooners are 3-1 this season in games decided by one run. OU was 14-7 in those situations in 2010 and the Sooners are 66-27-1 (.707) under head coach Sunny Golloway. The Sooners’ skipper entered 2011 with the best winning percentage among Big 12 coaches over the last five years in that category.
DOUBLE DIGITS
The Sooners recorded 10 or more hits in 18 games this season with a 17-1 mark (42 in 2010 with a 38-4 record), including seven out of the last nine and are averaging 11.4 hits per game this season.
OU is averaging eight runs per game, featuring 13 contests scored in double digits with a 13-0 record. (23 in 2010 with 22-1 record). OU posted 27 in game one of the UAPB series, the most since exploding for 29 runs on March 22, 2009 at Kansas State.
ROCHA NAMED BIG 12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK, AGAIN
After tossing a three-hit, one-run complete game, senior captain Michael Rocha was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week on April 4. It marks the third career honor from the conference office for Rocha and the second of 2011 (March 7). It also represents the fifth time a Sooner has been recognized by the Big 12 this season after Garrett Buechele has twice been named the player of the week (Feb. 21 and 28) and Jordan John was tabbed the newcomer of the week (Feb. 28).
TOUGH SCHEDULE
The Sooners are 4-4 in games against Top 25 teams this year after defeating then-No. 14 Cal (W, 5-3), then-No. 11 Texas A&M (W, 1-0),No. 23 Oklahoma State (W, 8-3) and No. 9 TCU (13-6). OU also dropped two games to Texas A&M and two to then-No. 9 Arizona State. OU is set to face three teams that appear in this weeks’ top 25 polls, to combine for seven games. OU also has OSU, Texas and TCU left on the schedule.
Overall, OU faces 10 opponents from 2010 NCAA tournament (23 games) in 2011, including five foes with 40-plus wins a year ago. OU also will face two 2010 CWS participants (Ari zona State & TCU) and two Super Regional hosts (Texas and Arkansas).
16-0 RECORD START
The 16-0 start is the best for a Sooner club, topping the 12 straight wins to begin the 1998 season. Other double-digit undefeated streaks to begin a season include 1984 (11-0) and 1974 (10-0). It marks the longest undefeated streak in the Big 12 era (since 1997), tied with the 2005 Texas team.
The 16-game winning streak is also the best under head coach Sunny Golloway and the sixth double-digit streak in his tenure (13 in 2006, 11 in 2007, 11 in 2008, 10 in 2009 and 10 in 2010). Its also the 25th in program history and longest since 1985 (19).
OGLE ON JOHNNY BENCH WATCH LIST
For the second straight season, junior catcher Tyler Ogle was named to the Johnny Bench watch list for the 2011 season. Ogle caught in 42 games last year as he hit .331 with 11 homers and 46 RBIs, while recording a .992 fielding percentage and throwing out 11 base stealers. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission released the Watch List for the 2011 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza on March 10.
OU NO. 5 IN PRESEASON POLLS
The Sooners were tabbed No. 5 in Baseball America’s preseason top 25 poll. Oklahoma was also ranked No. 5 in the preseason by the NCBWA. The Sooners have been ranked in the top 10 by Baseball America, at some point in the season, in each of the last three years. Only the 1984-1987 Sooners can claim a better streak among the nation’s top 10 in program history. The 2011 preseason ranking is the highest for OU since 1995 when it was coming off the program’s second National Championship and entered the season as Baseball America’s No. 3 team in the nation.
Polls: BA | USA | CB | NCBWA
SOONERS FAVORED TO WIN BIG 12 REGULAR SEASON
For the first time since 1995, Oklahoma is the preseason favorite to claim the Big 12 baseball regular season championship heading into the 2011 season, in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
In 2010, the Sooners made their 10th College World Series appearance and first trip to Omaha since 1995. It marks the first time since 1995 that OU was selected as the top pick in the preseason poll. The Sooners have twice been picked No. 2 in the Big 12 preseason poll (1999 and 2001) with the highest prediction under Golloway coming in 2010 (fourth). In 1995, OU was the No. 1 team headed into the Big Eight season after winning the program’s second National Chamionship the previous year.
WHO’s BACK
The Sooners return seven position starters and two weekend starting pitchers from last year’s College World Series team that won 50 games for the fifth time in program history. Included in that bunch is 2010 All-American Garrett Buechele at third base, 2010 Freshman All-American Max White at second base and 2009 All-American Ryan Duke (closer). OU welcomes back all but 14 of the 105 home runs hit last year and 32 of the 50 wins registered by the pitching staff.
BLAIR, BUECHELE, OGLE & ROCHA NAMED CAPTAINS
Seniors Elliott Blair and Michael Rocha and juniors Garrett Buechele and Tyler Ogle were voted as the 2011 captains by their teammates back in October during the team’s annual visit to Willow Springs Boys Ranch in Chandler, Okla. Buechele is is the only two-time captain (2010).
BUECHELE A PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Junior Garrett Buechele was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball preseason All-America teams. It marks the first such selection for Buechele, who was tabbed a second team All-American following the Sooners’ 2010 postseason run. Buechele led OU in every offensive category en route to the program’s 10th CWS appearance and first since 1995. The Arlington, Texas, was selected in the 18th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers.
He is the second Sooner to be named to a preseason list under head coach Sunny Golloway’s watch (Ryan Duke in 2010).
BASEBALL ON KREF 1400 AM IN 2011 | PDF of schedule
The 2011 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 54 regular season games live over the air and extends into postseason play.
Additionally, 23 of the games are set to be carried on the Sooners Sports’ Network, enabling fans to listen to OU baseball on the radio state-wide. The state-wide coverage begins on April 1 against Texas Tech and will continue for each of the games in Big 12 play. The network schedule also includes OU’s midweek games at home vs. Oklahoma State (April 5) and TCU (April 12).
The entire 56-game regular season schedule will also be broadcast live on the internet via Oklahoma All-Access, OU’s premium content site.
2011 TELEVISION SCHEDULE | PDF of schedule
In 2011, 13 baseball games will be televised locally for the 2011 season by Sooner Vision and Sooner Sports Properties. The broadcasts will air via the Sooner Sports Network on Cox Channel 3 in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Local sports personality Toby Rowland from KWTV News 9 (Oklahoma City) will call the play-by-play along with color analyst Kenny Mossman, Oklahoma Associate Athletics Director for Communications.
On top of the local coverage, the Sooners can also be seen nationally for three contests. In the last six years, 69 OU games have been seen on regional or national television, with 20 telecasts in 2010.
Sooner Sports Network-Cox Ch. 3 in OKC/Tulsa)
March 12 - Arkansas Little Rock (2 p.m.)
March 13 - Arkansas Little Rock (1 p.m.)
March 18 - Texas A&M (6:30 p.m.)
March 19 - Texas A&M (2 p.m.)
March 20 - Texas A&M (1 p.m.)
April 3 - Texas Tech (1 p.m.)
April 5 - Oklahoma State (6:30 p.m.)
April 12 - TCU (6:30 p.m.)
April 17 - vs. Oklahoma State (4:05 p.m.)
April 19 - Dallas Baptist (6:30 p.m.)
May 6 - Kansas (6:30 p.m.)
May 8 - Kansas (1 p.m.)
May 15 - New Mexico (1 p.m.)
Fox Sports Southwest
April 30 - at Texas (11:30 a.m.)
May 7 - Kansas (2 p.m.)
ESPNU
May 1 - at Texas (1 p.m.)
April 2 - Texas Tech (7 p.m.)
Cowboy Sports Network
April 15 - vs. Oklahoma State (7:35 p.m.)
SOONERS INK 14 FOR 2012 SEASON
Oklahoma baseball head coach Sunny Golloway announced the signing of 14 student athletes as part of the 2012 signing class on Wednesday. The recruits signed National Letters of Intent in the early signing period and are set to join the Sooners next fall.
Overall, 12 of the 14 recruits are rated by Perfect Game Crosschecker as prospects for the 2011 MLB Draft. Four of the signees have already been selected in the draft, including three last season.
Clayton Blackburn | RHP | 6-2 | 210
Edmond, Okla. (Edmond Santa Fe H.S.)
Brian Brightwell | OF/1B | L/L | 6-0 |185
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City H.S.)
Tony Calhoun | RHP/ INF | R/R | 6-1 | 180
Temecula, Calif. (Howard College)
Garrett Carey | SS | R/R | 6-2 | 210
Hutto, Texas (McClennan C.C.)
Mason Hope | RHP | R/R | 6-3 | 185
Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow H.S.)
Adrian Houser | RHP | R/R | 6-3 | 200
Locust Grove, Okla. (Locust Grove H.S.)
Nick Lee | LHP/ OF | L/L | 6-0 | 190
San Antonio, Texas (Weatherford College)
Hunter Lockwood | C | R/R | 5-11 | 189
Bedford, Texas (Lawrence Dale Bell H.S.)
Damien Magnifico | RHP | R/R | 6-1 | 190
Mesquite, Texas (Howard College)
Austin O’Donnell | RHP | R/R | 6-0 | 210
Magnolia, Ark. (Northeast Texas C.C.)
Steven Okert | LHP | L/L | 6-3 | 215
Rowlett, Texas | Grayson County College
Jacob Rhame | RHP | R/R | 6-0 | 190
Corinth, Texas (Denton Guyer H.S.)
Nick Sawyer | RHP | R/R | Fr. | 5-10 | 180
Carrollton, Texas (Howard College)
Ty Washington | INF | R/R | 5-10 | 165
Richardson, Texas (Plano East H.S.)
