Long ball fuels OSU in opening weekend

Bullpen comes up clutch for Sooners at Round Rock Classic

Welcome back, college baseball.

The season got into full swing last week with both OU and Oklahoma State off to a strong start. Here is a look at how the week went and what's ahead for each team:

Long ball fuels Cowboys

OSU coach Josh Holliday

was curious leading into the first games at O'Brate Stadium just how it would play.

The early results show the Cowboys can hit the long ball there, and from any part of the lineup.

OSU hit six homers in the weekend sweep of Illinois State — three each Saturday and Sunday — and now have nine on the season.

Catcher Brock Mathis caught fire Saturday and Sunday, hitting a homer in each game. He was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, batting . 462 and slugging 1.154 on the week while driving in five runs over four games. He also doubled and scored three times in a win at Wichita State.

Also on Sunday, freshman Nolan McClean and Jake Thompson each homered. On Saturday, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Ca de Cabbiness homered.

For the weekend, OSU had 19 total hits. Five of those were doubles. On the season, OSU is batting .260 with 25 extra-base hits.

But even with the long ball so prominent, don't overlook the start of others.

McClean is batting .389 with four walks in his first five collegiate games. Veteran Alix Garcia — the first Cowboy to homer in the new stadium — is batting .375 with a homer and six RBIs. His slugging percentage is .708.

Crooks making his mark early for Sooners

While OU's offense has had a bit of a shaky start to the season, redshirt freshman Jimmy Crooks has started off strong.

After not starting the opener, Crooks has been in the starting lineup in each of the last six games, with three starts at catcher and three at designated hitter.

The transfer from M cL en nan is hitting .364 with a .548 on-base percentage and .683 slugging percentage, leading the team in all three categories.

Crooks' biggest game came in Friday's 4-3 win over Auburn where he went 3 for 3 with a run and drew three walks.

Only two other Sooners' hitters are batting better than .300— Peyton Graham (.333), who didn't play in Sunday' s 9-3 Round Rock Class finale win over Baylor, and Conor McKenna (.320).

The Sooners are last in the league in slugging percentage at .336, with just seven double sand four home runs.

OSU's rotation off to strong start

Through six games, t he Cowboys' starting rotation has allowed just five runs to score.

Veteran lefty Parker Scott allowed one run in two starts, freshman Bryce Osmond allowed two in his two starts and newcomer Justin Wrobleski allowed one in his only start. Even freshman Justin Campbell allowed a single run in the stadium opener.

Scott has been particularly effective, striking out 13 batters in 11 innings.

The Cowboys couldn't have asked for a better start to the season from the rotation.

But the bull pen has been nearly as strong.

Outside of a hiccup by Heritage Hall graduate Roman Phansalkar and a blown save by veteran Brett Standlee, the Cowboys have mostly been lights out.

Overall, the Cowboys enter the week with a 2.17 ERA.

OU's bullpen coming through

While O U' so ff en se hasn't been sharp at times so far, the Sooners' pitching staff has been solid, with a 3.57 ERA over the first seven games with 67 strikeouts and 31 walks in 63 innings pitched.

The bull penis where O Uh as really shined, with a 2. 27 ERA compared to the 5.27 ERA of the Sooners' starters.

Jason Ru ff corn has yet to record a save this season but has been excellent in relief, with three scoreless appearances, allowing just one hit in three innings pitched.

Ruffcorn needs just one save to tie Jacob Evans and Jarod McAuliff for third in Sooners' history with 17 career saves.

J aret Godman hasn't allowed a run in 71/3 innings, with six hits and one walk. Carson Carter also has a 0.00 ERA in 7 innings of work.

While most of the positive momentum has come from the back end of the pitching staff, left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett has been strong in his two starts so far, with a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings pitched.

OU

So far this season: 4-3 Over the weekend: 2-1 (Beat Auburn 4-3, lost to Texas A&M 8-1, beat Baylor 9-3 at Round Rock (Texas) Classic)

This week: at Frisco College Baseball Classic in Frisco, Texas. vs. Arizona, 2 p.m. Thursday; Arizona, noon Friday; Missouri 7 p.m. Saturday; Dallas Baptist, 6 p.m. Sunday.

OSU

So far this season: 6-0 Over the weekend: 3-0 (Beat Illinois State 3-2, 8-2, 6-0)

This week: at Missouri State, 3 p.m. Tuesday; vs. Grand Canyon, 4 p.m. Friday 4 p.m. and Saturday, noon Sunday.