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It didn't take long for OU to commit the first error of the season. Hofstra's Dalton Rouleau led off with a one-hopper to Jack Mayfield who fielded it awkwardly and then made an errant throw to first base, allowing Rouleau to reach safely. Two batters later Austin Nyman hit the ball up the first base line line that got under the glove of Kolbey Carpenter allowing Nyman to reach and Rouleau to score. The run was unearned and was the only time Hofstra crossed the plate until the ninth inning.
It didn't take Oklahoma long to get the run back as they would more than capitalize on Hofstra's mistakes. Mayfield reached base, as OU's second batter, on a single to right field. Max White followed that up with a single to center and then advanced to second on a throwing error that also sent Mayfield to third. Matt Oberste then loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch, sending Hofstra pitcher Joe Burg into a downward spiral. Burg walked Colt Bickerstaff, allowing Mayfield to come home and tie the game a 1-1, and then freshman Anthony Hermelyn hit a base clearing double to put the Sooners up 4-1.
Oklahoma added three more runs in the fourth, on a three RBI triple by Matt Oberste, and then three more in the seventh when Carpenter hit a three RBI triple to give the Sooners their ten run total for the day.
For a season opener Dillon Overton was spectacular. He went seven full innings, striking out 7 of the 26 batters he faced, giving up just two hits and allowing no earned runs. Ralph Garza Jr. came in to pitch the final two innings. He struggled at times, which should be expected of a freshman in his debut, giving up three runs off four hits.
The story of the day was the impact that Oklahoma's newcomers had on the game. Freshman Craig Aikin was solid in center field, Colt Bickerstaff got credit for an RBI when he was beaned, Hector Lorenzana went 2-of-4 from the plate, Kolbey Carpenter went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and Anthony Hermelyn knocked in 3 RBIs.
We know what to expect from guys like Max White and Jack Mayfield but it was the new guys who were a bit of a mystery. While this was just one game, against a non-Big 12 caliber opponent, it did answer one question about the 2013 Sooners. The new guys are ready for this level of college baseball.
The Sooners will play a double-header against Hofstra on Saturday with the first game beginning at 1:00 PM.