March 9, 2007
SAN DIEGO - A pair of Oklahoma pitchers scattered six hits and allowed just one unearned run as the Sooners defeated San Diego State, 4-1, Friday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. It was the 10th straight win for Oklahoma as it improved to 12-4, while SDSU saw its record drop to 11-9. The contest was the opener for both squads in the Tony Gwynn 2007 Classic being hosted by the Aztecs this weekend.
San Diego State starting pitcher Steven Hirschfeld got off to a rough start when the second OU batter of the game, outfielder Joe Dunigan, connected for a solo home run deep over the left field fence to give the visitors a quick 1-0 lead.
The Sooners doubled their advantage in the next frame on back-to-back singles by Cory Williamson and Devin Shepherd followed by a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Jackson Williams.
The Aztecs, meanwhile, were unable to generate any offense of note off Sooner starter Stephen Porlier. Over his six innings of work, Porlier allowed three hits and a walk while striking out eight. He did not allow more than one base runner in any inning and no Aztec advanced past second base.
Oklahoma struck for two more runs off Hirschfeld in the top of the fifth as Aaron Baker's bases-loaded two-out single through the left side of the infield brought home the Sooner's third and fourth runs of the contest to make it a 4-0 game.
SDSU finally broke through in its half of the seventh as Garett Green doubled down the right field line with one out. Josh Chasse then hit a hard grounder toward third that took a bad hop and went into left for a single. When Sooner left fielder Aaron Ivey threw the ball wildly back into the infield, Green scored the unearned run.
Porlier, who left the game after six innings, picked up the win, his fourth of the season against no defeats. Nich Conaway, who tossed the final three innings, recorded his first save of the season. For SDSU's Hirschfeld, it was his first loss of the year as his record dropped to 2-1.
Josh Chasse, who came on in the top of the second as a defensive replacement after right fielder Pat Colwell was injured chasing down a fly by near the fence, accounted for half of San Diego State's six hits on the evening.
The Tony Gwynn 2007 classic continues tomorrow (Saturday, March 10) as action moves to PETCO Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, for a doubleheader. Oklahoma will take on University of San Diego at 3:00 p.m. followed by Michigan and San Diego State at 7:00 p.m. A special ceremony honoring SDSU head coach Tony Gwynn on his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame will take place at 6:30.