Feb. 19, 2010
SAN DIEGO - Oklahoma scored twice in both the fifth and sixth innings to erase an early San Diego State lead and defeat the Aztecs, 7-4, in the 2010 season opener for both teams. The contest marked the collegiate starting debut for SDSU junior Addison Reed, a preseason All-American as a relief pitcher after being named the national Stopper of the Year in 2009.
San Diego State took the lead in its first at bat of the new season. Mitch Blackburn led off with a walk, was sacrifice to second by Brandon Decker and came home on a two-out single by Cory Vaughn.
After the Sooners put up single markers in the second and third to go up 2-1, SDSU regained the lead with a pair of runs in the third on an RBI double by Brandon Meredith and run-scoring single by Jomel Torres.
Oklahoma battled back and went ahead for good with a pair of runs in the fifth as Garrett Buechele's RBI single gave the Sooners a 4-3 advantage. Buechele, the 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, had homered earlier in the contest and finished with a pair of hits and two runs batted in.
The visitors added two more in the sixth and a solo home run by first baseman Cameron Seitzer in the seventh provided the final OU run. SDSU answered back in the bottom of the seventh on Blake Silguero's run-scoring single, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
SDSU's Reed went 4.2 innings in his first starting role, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts as he absorbed the loss. Aztec pitchers struck out a total of a dozen batters on the night with sophomore John Pecoraro recording four of those in his 2.1 innings of relief duty.
Oklahoma reliever Jeremy Erben picked up the win as he limited the Aztecs to one run over the four middle innings. Closer Ryan Duke, a third-team All-American last season, got the final three outs in the ninth to record the save.
Freshman infielder Blair Moore had an impressive opening night as an Aztec garnering a single and double in three plate appearances as the designated hitter. Cory Vaughn and Matt Parker finished the evening with two hits apiece for the Aztecs as well.
San Diego State and Oklahoma continue their four-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20. The first contest of that twin bill will get underway at 1:00 p.m. with the second game starting approximately a half hour after the conclusion of game one.