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Expulsion of students at OU rarely occurs Student Conduct office discusses disciplinary action JESSE POUND News Reporter @jesserpound
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Two knights engage in battle on the jousting field Friday afternoon at the 39th annual Medieval Fair. The Medieval fair is held each spring at Norman’s Reaves Park.
MEDIEVAL MADNESS Guests at this year’s 39th annual Medieval Fair came to the festival in droves to enjoy giant turkey legs, sword play and period costumes. The festival, which takes place in Reaves Park, brought attendees back in time, if only for three days. Events included a costume contest, human chess board and jousting events. Check out our photo gallery of the festival. SEE PAGE 2 FOR MORE PHOTOS.
Loans to help student graduates DANIEL HOANG/THE DAILY
Mariah Menzie dresses up as Mother Nature for the 2015 Medieval Fair on March 27 at Reaves Park. She is an OU alumni of 2009 with dual degrees in international area studies and French. The fair ran March 27 - March 29.
Geographical Ecology department to grow its staff JESSE POUND News Reporter @jesserpound
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Dr. Michael Kaspari, a George Lynn Cross research professor, discusses what geographical ecology is and why the university is hiring three new professors for that field.
said. Geographical ecology is the study of how geographical factors affect both living and non-living things in the environment, Kaspari said. “We share water with Colorado. The way Colorado uses water affects us and the way we use water affects Arkansas [and] Texas,” Kaspari said. Kaspari pointed to the war in Syria, which occurred at the same time as a drought, as an example of how geographical ecology can have
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a major effect on people’s lives. “A l m o s t e v e r y m a j o r problem on the planet has a geographical component,” Kaspari said. A better understanding of the field will be critical to making sure the Earth remains a habitable place as climate changes, Kaspari said. A stronger department will compliment OU’s strong meteorology department. “By bringing in [...] biology to OU’s existing strengths in climate, water and energy,
we’re basically adding the last piece of the puzzle,” Kaspari said. Recent faculty retirements allowed OU the opportunity to make this cluster hire, Randall Hewes, Biology department chairman, said in an email. The tentative start date for the professors is Aug. 16, Hewes said in an email. Rajen Bajgain, a second-year graduate student pursuing a doctorate in ecology, said he was excited about the possibility of OU studying the link between geography and ecology. “That would be great if we can link geographic distribution of the different components of the ecosystems and science that we need,” Bajgain said. Bajgain said he would also like to see research about how geographical ecology affects the economy. For more information, v i s i t t h e d e p a r t m e n t ’s website. Jesse Pound jesserpound@gmail.com
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OU to hire three science professors
OU will expand its Geographical Ecology department, hiring three faculty members in an effort to make the university one of the leaders in the field. The department has planned to expand for the last four years and is looking for a geographical ecologist, a physiological ecologist and an aquatic ecologist, said Michael Kaspari, a George Lynn Cross research professor. Interviews have begun, and the top candidates for each position will visit OU this week, Kaspari said. Bringing in three new scientists at once can jumpstart the program’s growth, comparing the cluster hire to a “turbo booster,” Kasparis said. The professors are expected to collaborate with each other on research, Kaspari
When OU President David Boren announced the expulsion of two Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity freshmen, it was a rare event. The OU Student Conduct office has avoided expelling students in recent years, according to records acquired by The Daily. Disciplinary is action taken against students who violate certain sections of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Code, according to the records.
Between March 1, 2011, and March 16, 2015, OU Student Conduct expelled just one student, the records show. That does not include students who chose to withdraw before they could be expelled or students whose discipline process was overtaken by a legal procedure, such as a student going to jail, said Steve Ashmore, director of OU Student Conduct. Ashmore said he would prefer a student, unless the student is a threat to campus, be given the chance to come back to school and change their risky behavior. “My philosophy as the director is to be fair and consistent,” Ashmore said.
OU Federal Credit Union eases some financial worries BRADON LONG
Contributing Writer @bradonlongwx
As seniors nearing graduation hunt for jobs, they can also look for ways to establish and maintain financial stability as graduates. While the OU Federal Credit Union does not provide student loans for tuition, they do provide loans for a variety of other needs. “We provide OU students, faculty, staff and alumni with loans to buy a computer, have extra money for books or even car and equity loans,” said Shannon Hudzinski, OU Federal Credit Union president and CEO. Future students can also apply for a credit-building loan to establish credit, Hudzinski said. Students can pledge money of around $500$1,000 toward their credit with an interest rate of 2.49 percent and establish credit right away, Hudzinski said. Students with a job on average earning $15,000$18,000 a year can reasonably apply for a loan for a car around $5,000-$7,000, Hudzinski said. Without a job, loans
become more limited but still optional, Hudzinski said. Loans for a computer average around $1,500. When it comes to defaulting on loans, students do not need to worry about the loan impeding on their education, Hudzinski said. “ We [ t h e O U Fe d e ra l Credit Union] are not like the bursar’s office,” Hudzinski said. “The loan would be written off and the student’s credit would be impacted. However, the OU Federal Credit Union is a separate entity from the university and defaulting students will still receive their diploma.” Once a student graduates, he or she does not have to leave the credit union. When customers get into the job market they can have their paychecks direct deposited into their account with the credit union, Hudzinski said. A mobile app established by the credit union enables customers to be able handle their money on the go, according to the credit union’s web page. The credit union also gives loans to customers later in life for further car and equity loans, as well as any other loans falling within a customer’s available loan range. “We’re here to help OU students establish credit,” Hudzinski said. Bradon Long Bradon.K.Long-1@ou.edu
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VOL. 100, NO. 114 © 2015 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢
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• Monday, March 30, 2015
NEWS
Paris Burris, news editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
MEDIEVAL FAIR
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Holly Boismier, in her dragon costume, cheers up the other contestants during the Medieval Fair Costume Contest at Camelot on March 28.
Mario Mitri wears his tiger costume and makeup as he promotes The Likely Lotus, a booth that sells Renaissance accessories and gifts. Mitri has worked with various Renaissance fairs for 26 years.
Group dedicates week to female engineers Society of Women Engineers supports, encourages others ANDIE BEENE
Life and Arts Reporter @andie_beene
As they study to enter a field where they are often considered a minority, female engineers at OU have not only built a community but have dedicated a whole week to women engineers. The Society of Women Engineers is holding its second annual Society of Women Engineers Week, better known as SWE-ek, March 30 to April 3. Bri Reyna, the publicity chair for the society, said SWE-ek focuses on mentorship, professional development and outreach for women engineers with both career-focused and social events. Sarah Bedell, SWE president, said that after the success of last year’s SWEek, the group expanded this year to offer three more events. Although the events are geared towards women e n g i n e e r s, a n y o n e c a n come, Bedell said. Amy Wisecarver, co-chair of SWE-ek, said there will be industry professionals on campus for the events all week, a great opportunity for both male and female students. “This is definitely a great way to network,” Wisecarver said. Conni Eckstein, an OU
alumna and current engineer at Boeing, will be t h e ke y n o te sp ea ke r at Thursday’s SWE-ek banquet. Bedell said Eckstein has always been supportive of the OU chapter of SWE and uses her own experiences as a woman engineer to encourage and educate others. “She’s made [her experiences] into a leadership experience,” Bedell said. Reyna said it was valuable for female engineering students to hear Eckstein’s message. “It’s great to get to see her perspective and what she has experienced as a woman engineer,” Reyna said. Also at the banquet, awards will be presented for an outstanding faculty member, staff member, senior student, underclassman and professional in the industry, Reyna said. Nominations were submitted through last Wednesday, and voting is open through this Wednesday. Bedell, Reyna and Wisecarver said that in addition to networking and professional development, SWE-ek shows female engineers the community they have. “They can get an idea of the support system they have on hand,” Bedell said. They also recommended that any woman interested in joining SWE should stop by any event this week. Those interested can also connect with OU’s SWE chapter via their website,
University of Oklahoma Society of Women Engineers Facebook page or through Twitter and Instagram accounts @OU_SWE. Andie Beene Andrea.K.Beene-1@ou.edu
SWE-EK EVENTS Monday, March 30: Kick-Off Social from 7 to 9 p.m. at HeyDay Entertainment Tuesday, March 31: Etiquette Lunch and Resume Critique from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Scholars Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Wednesday, April 1: SWE Elections from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility room 200. Thursday, April 2: SWE-ek Banquet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Chesapeake Stadium Club of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, RSVP required. Friday, April 3: College of Engineering High School Girls Day, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bonfire from 7 to 9 p.m. at Thunderbird Park
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President OU David Boren holds a press conference in response to SAE racist chat in front of Evans Hall Friday afternoon. Boren announces diversity training plan for OU and investigation findings about local SAE chapter.
STUDENT CONDUCT: Expulsion saved for significant transgressions Continued from Page One Expulsion is reserved for those who make significant transgressions. “It ’s just not something that I recommend in many cases,” Ashmore said. The records covere d dis ciplinar y action taken against students who violated the follow ing s e ctions of OU’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Code: VI(1), VI(2), VI(6), VI(11), VI(13), VI(17), VI(18), VI(19) and VI(20). These sections cover abusive conduct violations, alcohol and drug
violations, harassment violations and sexual misconduct violations, among other things. Instead of expulsion, students may be given a suspension or a suspension in abeyance. During the time frame mentioned above, 18 students were suspended and 12 students were given suspensions in abeyance, according to the records. A suspension in abeyance is a suspension that is put on hold unless a student violates the Student Rights and Responsibilities Code again. In the case of another transgression, the previous suspension takes place immediately, without more
hearings in front of the student conduct office. Th e s e l e s s e r pu n i s h ments have been successful in helping students change their risky behavior, Ashmore said. Sara Fisher, an international area studies sophomore, said she thinks suspension in abeyance can be a useful tool. She would like to see students have extra punishment to help them change their behavior, such as community service. Jesse Pound jesserpound@gmail.com
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OPINION
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Kaitlyn Underwood, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion
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SAE video scandal has become the punch line of a Saturday Night Live skit and that’s nothing to be proud of.
How do you know a scandal has gone truly viral and national? When Saturday Night Live chooses to satirize it live for the whole country. Any Sooners watching Saturday Night Live over the weekend recognized the show’s reference to the recent controversy surrounding a viral video showing OU SAE members chanting racial slurs. The reference to the OU SAE scandal should be a reminder to all Sooners that we have a chance to define our national reputation in the aftermath of the racist video. Do we want OU to be a satirical punch line or a model for tackling discrimination and embracing diversity? We know which reputation we’d prefer for OU, and we hope most Sooners would agree it’s our duty to represent our university with respect in all that we do. The nation has seen OU students come together in peaceful protest and engage in meaningful conversations about race relations on our campus. That’s the legacy OU should have. We should not be seen as an institution that degrades and discriminates against students of color. The only way to ensure we are not future fodder for Saturday Night Live is to continue to come together, learn from one another and celebrate our differences. The skit — a faux-commercial for “Brogaine� hair-growth foam — poked fun at bro culture and fraternity lifestyles in general. The fake product helps frat
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members combat premature hair loss due to stress like “midterms, nerds, worrying your frat dog may be alcoholic or because you chanted the N-word in a viral video.� It might be a subtle reference, but there’s no mistaking which former OU fraternity members Saturday Night Live writers were referencing. And it’s not a reference to be proud of. It’s all fun and games until your school becomes the punch line. Thankfully, Sooner nation’s response to the hatred displayed in the video has cemented exactly the reputation we hope OU becomes known for. Unheard has brought together students, faculty and staff from across campus in events designed to maintain open conversations about diversity and inclusivity at OU. We need the prayer vigils, silent protests and town hall meetings
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Our view: OU’s racist
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Unheard and other campus groups have provided for Sooners. Through continued, constructive dialogue we can break down the prejudices that linger on campus to ensure there truly is only one Oklahoma, one that
embraces and supports all its members regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, nationality or gender.
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Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015 Search for balance this year. Divvy your time up evenly between what you want to do and what you have to do. Follow your passion, but play by the rules in order to fulfill your professional obligations. Working in conjunction with others will lead to opportunities.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Present your work. A colleague will try to damage your reputation. Make sure that whomever you work with or for is fully aware of your contributions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- You need to put more energy into your relationships. Plan social events that include your loved ones. Mixing ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- A business with pleasure will pay off. romantic relationship should take top Do something nice for someone who priority. You will serve as a positive offers to help you out. role model for someone younger. Moneymaking opportunities are SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Admit apparent and within your reach. that you donĘźt have all the answers. Send out your resume. If change is needed, do whatever it takes to get the job done. Relax TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You will by spending time on an enjoyable have to take extra care when sharing creative project. your opinions. Your words may be misinterpreted or misunderstood. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- You Before making a major change, dig will be outgoing and in demand. Surdeep, do your research and proceed round yourself with inspiring people. with caution. Consider entering into a partnership or joint venture that offers financial GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- A benefits. Fix up your digs. lucrative partnership will develop as a result of a new acquaintance CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- DonĘźt that you make while helping others. allow anyone to push you into Through collaboration, you will be something that you are not ready able to accomplish everything on for. You will end up in a vulnerable your to-do list today. position if you take on more than you can handle. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Update your look in order to get positive AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Keep feedback. Financial planning should your personal life to yourself. If you be your main priority. Look into real are feeling restless, a physical or estate or investment opportunities. mental challenge will be stimulating. An innovative idea will pay off. Think matters through before making any major purchases. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Your charisma will draw the attention of PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- You will someone in a position of authority. have a lot on your mind, so make Share your ideas, but donĘźt let sure you put forth extra effort. DonĘźt anyone take over or take credit. Your let emotional or personal matters input will bring you recognition and prevent you from doing your best rewards. work.
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ACROSS 1 Flowerpot material 11 Hung up on esses 15 Communism and others 16 Excited by 17 Letters to the editor 19 Draws to a close 20 Bold and sassy 21 “Superman� actor Christopher 22 Brazen one 23 Supply provisions 24 “___ well� 27 Figure to shoot for 28 Bundle 29 Common carrier 32 Early afternoon hour 35 Monopoly square 39 Babysitter’s handful 40 007 41 Eagle’s home 42 Amniotic ___ 44 Fix firmly, in a way 45 Boozehound 48 Demolished a London flat 51 Acclaim 52 “Boola Boola� collegians 3/30
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26 Man in the making 27 Islands dish 28 ___ Lanka (Ceylon) 29 It may come after many moons? 30 Coffee container 31 Young boy 32 Ripped 33 Bide one’s time 34 Poem with complex stanza forms 36 Major network 37 ___ an egg (bombed) 38 Increase motor speed, briefly 42 Skilled mariner
43 Word with “industrial� and “martial� 44 Dwell permanently 45 Contract conditions 46 Deep blue sea 47 Costa del Sol feature 48 Strike anew 49 Last Olds model produced 50 “Cops� sound 53 ’60s sports cars 54 Indian royal 55 Breezed through, as an exam 56 Eyelid affliction 58 Pan Am alternative 59 Mantra syllables
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BETWEEN THE LINES By Lester J. White
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• Monday, March 30, 2015
SPORTS
Dillon Hollingsworth, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
Sooner basketball is back despite tournament loss SPORTS REPORTER
Men’s tennis nets victory Sunday Sophomore Andrew Harris propels Sooners over Red River foe BRADY VARDEMAN
Assistant Sports Editor @BradyVardeman
Trent Crabtree trent.j.crabtree-1@ou.edu @TrentCrabtree
T
he cruelty of losing in the NCAA Tournament can, at times, be so overwhelming for players and fans alike that it is almost surreal. By the same token, the phenomenon known as March Madness can also spell the rise of unsung heroes, the validation of off-season sacrifice and the triumph of schools so small that most people can’t even locate them on a map. For a brief period, communities of fans can stand by their mid-major athletic programs, even in the face of a new NCAA culture that aims to please the biggest programs with the biggest pockets. March is comedy. March is tragedy. With Friday night’s Sweet 16 loss by the No. 3 seed Oklahoma men’s basketball team at the hands of No. 7 seed Michigan State, Sooner Nation was provided a front row seat to the latter and watched one of best seasons in the history of the program come to an abrupt end. It was a game that started off about as well as OU could have asked for. The Sooners made the first four shots they took and suddenly found themselves with an early 9-4 lead over the favored Spartans. OU looked fluid in transition, active on defense and comfortable in the half court, taking a 31-21 lead late in the first half. In this moment, the Final Four birth that had evaded the Sooners for 13 years no longer looked like a distant dream. But then the second half arrived and the shots stopped falling. The Spartans found a spark, made their open looks and leaned on all-time great coaching from Tom Izzo to pull out the 72-68 victory. Essentially, the Spartans turned the game
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Sophomore guard Jordan Woodard dribbles towards the net during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Friday, March 27, 2015, in Syracuse, New York
into a street fight, and Izzo — whose teams are as gritty as they come — doesn’t tend to lose many street fights. Just like that, Indianapolis disappeared beyond the horizon. The dream was suddenly nowhere to be found. March is comedy, but it is also tragedy. Now begins a long off-season for the Sooners and the dreaded act of having to start over again, of working toward another run next year. But let’s take a step back, shall we? Let’s not forget that this team gave us a reason to believe in OU basketball again. In the shadows of Kelvin Sampson’s championship-level seasons and Jeff Capel’s turmoil with the NCAA, Lon Kruger stepped out and reinvented the culture of the program, with this year’s team being the end product of that transformation. The 2014-15 Sooners will, or at least should, be remembered as a team that not only achieved great heights, but
did so with the utmost class. At the end of every practice, for instance, the team shakes the hand of every media member in attendance — every single one. Before every home game, Kruger personally thanks the student section for their support. A tweet from Kelly Damphousse, dean of OU’s College of Arts and Sciences, tells us all we need to know about the way Kruger has run the program from day one. ‘Little things matter. Fresh off a tough Sweet 16 loss, @LonKruger sweeps thru the lobby to comfort fans. Took 2 mins, meant a lot. #Class’ — KELLY DAMPHOUSSE (@KDAMP) MARCH 28, 2015”
named Blake Griffin decided to lace up his sneakers in Norman. The effervescent and notoriously goofy Hield posted season averages of 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on his way to winning Big 12 Player of the Year. After big performances, the Bahamian would credit his teammates first and talk about his accomplishments as quickly as he released his jump shot. The off-season will be especially tough on Hield, as he must decide whether to jump to the NBA — where he could potentially be as high as a late first-round pick — or stay in Norman to pursue a championship with a team that will likely be a Big 12 favorite next season. Whatever Hield decides, this team will return the big stage again next year, and if they do, they will do so with grace.
At the season’s end, this team won 12 games in the nation’s most competitive conference and produced a Player of the Year candidate in junior guard Buddy Hield, who captured hearts for the Trent Crabtree is a first time since a local kid journalism junior
Underneath a beating sun, sophomore Andrew Harris stared across the court at his Longhorn opponent Sunday. No. 1 Sorren HessOleson peered back, eager to avenge an individual loss at Oklahoma State two days prior – his first of the season. Less than ten minutes prior, Harris had finished a doubles match just one court over, where he and his partner Alex Ghilea extended their contest to a tie-break, eventually grabbing the victory and giving Oklahoma the doubles point. Harris said the doubles victory gave the team renewed energy heading into the singles portion of the match. “At the end, there was a lot of energy,” he said. “It just pumped us all up and we know once we win the doubles point, we’re very hard to beat. It gave us all confidence.” The boost from the doubles point was enough to propel No. 1 Oklahoma to a 4-1 victory over No. 7 Texas. Harris likely benefited most from the energy. Facing the toughest competition of any Sooner Sunday, he got out to a quick start and took the first set 6-1. The second set, however, was much tougher for the Australian native as Hess-Oleson brought the match to a 3-3 tie midway through the set. “He picked up his game,” Harris said of HessOlsen’s performance in the final set. “He was a little flat in the first set and then in the second he picked up a lot.” Despite the resurgence on the other end of the court, Harris won the final three games, giving the No. 1 player nationally his second loss of the
“It just pumped us all up and we know once we win the doubles point, we’re very hard to beat. It gave us all confidence.” ANDREW HARRIS, SOPHOMORE
weekend. “Not often do you get to play the No. 1 player in the country,” Harris said. “I just really focused and took every chance that I got. I was just really, really focused throughout the whole match and it just showed.” Oklahoma coach John Roddick agreed that focus was the main factor behind his singles victory. “That’s how he can play when he’s really focused,” Roddick said. “You know, not giving any free points away and that was a great effort.” No. 2 junior Axel Alvarez and freshman Spencer Papa picked up two more points for Oklahoma on court Nos. 2 and 5, respectively, to close the match for the Sooners. “Axel, to go out and take care of it like that, just play the way he needs to play to make the guy feel like he doesn’t have a chance and that’s what he did,” Roddick said of Alvarez’s 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 34 Lloyd Glasspool. Despite his team’s success in singles, Roddick was most impressed with how the Sooners handled adversity during the doubles portion, especially on court No. 2. “That’s huge to get the doubles [point] because then you can see how they work,” he said. “You go into the singles, guys see that [the] finish line is just that much closer.” The Sooners will be back in action April 1, when they take on Tulsa in Norman. Brady Vardeman brady.vardeman@ou.edu
PLAY BALL Softball high-scoring in sweep
Baseball drops weekend series
Sooners score 43 runs enroute to three game sweep
W - Paige Parker
OU falls twice before rebounding Sunday
Sat: OU 13, Tech 5
SPENSER DAVIS
DILLON HOLLINGSWORTH Sports Editor @DillonJames94
Fri: OU 9, Tech 1
W - Shelby Pendley
Baseball Reporter @Davis_Spenser
Oklahoma (18-12, 3-3) dropped its series with Baylor (12-15, 4-5) this W - Paige Parker weekend, falling in the first two games before exploding time OU has scored 20 or for 13 runs in a series-finale more runs in a game this victory. season. Senior infieldThe Bears took the initial er Lauren Chamberlain stanza by the score of 3-0 added to the barrage with and then came from behind a grand slam in the fifth to win game two 7-2. Two inning Sunday, giving Children Chil Ch ildr dren en tto o King Kin Ki n her Size runs is the lowest output of 15 home runs this season the season for Oklahoma’s and moving her into secoffense over a two game ond place on the all-time span. home run leaderboard, just The Bears got a pair of three shy of tying the NCAA complete-game efforts record. from sophomore Daniel The series sweep moved Castano and Drew Tolson the Sooners to 28-5 overon Friday and Saturday. all and held higher signifThe Sooners also received icance as the squad’s first solid efforts from a pair of foray into conference play. sophomores, Jake Elliot Oklahoma will be back and Alec Hansen, but were home for the first time unable to capitalize due to since March 16 when they lack of offense. take on the University of OU was able to avoid a Central Arkansas at Marita sweep on Sunday in a 13-3 Hynes Field Tuesday. The MATT WESLING/THE DAILY first pitch is set for 5 p.m. thumping of the Bears. That outburst was punctuated Junior outfielder Erin Miller outruns a bunt in her game versus by an eight-run first inning Dillon Hollingsworth East Carolina on Saturday in which the Sooners mus2409 24 09 S Agnew Aatgn gnew ew Ave Ave dillon.j.hollingsworth-1@ou.edu (405) 636-1486 (4 Marita Hynes Field. tered eight singles. Senior The No. 6 Oklahoma softball team scored 43 runs en route to a three game sweep of Texas Tech this weekend, including a 21 run outburst in the series finale on Sunday. The 21 runs marked the second highest total the program has ever put up against a Big 12 squad, and the third
Sun: OU 21, Tech 6
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right-handed pitcher Robert Tasin picked up the win for the Sooners, moving to 5-1 on the year. Also of note for the Sooners was the return of junior outfielder Alex Wise, who has been sidelined with a hand injury since the early part of the season. Wise went hitless in games one and two, but went 3-for5 with a trio of RBI in the finale. OU will be in action again on Tuesday as it hosts Central Arkansas at 6 p.m.
DANIEL HOANG/THE DAILY
Freshman Spencer Papa stretches for the ball at a game against Texas on Sunday at the Headington Family Tennis Center. The Sooners beat the Longhorns 4-1.
UNIVERSITY THEATRE and SCHOOL OF DANCE present
Oklahoma Festival Ballet Featuring Petipa’s La Bayadére, Act II
Spenser Davis davis.spenser@ou.edu
BY THE NUMBERS: BAYLOR PITCHING
18
Innings pitched: Baylor pitchers allowed just seven hits and two earned runs in the first two games.
11
Strikeouts: Baylor pitchers Daniel Castano and Drew Tolson sent batters back to the dug-out 11 times.
8 pm April 3, 4, 10, 11 3 pm April 11, 12 Reynolds Performing Arts Center
THEATRE.OU.EDU (405) 325-4101
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