Junior pitcher Zach Neal lasted only three innings in his OU debut Friday night but avoided his first loss since his freshman year as the No. 22 Sooners recorded 13 hits and scored five unanswered runs en route to a 7-4 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs.

Friday evening’s win in San Diego puts OU in the win column to open the season for the second straight year.

Neal could not hold onto an early 2-1 third-inning lead following sophomore third baseman Garrett Buechele’s solo home run in the top half of the third. Neal allowed the Aztecs to strike for two runs in the bottom half of the third inning before his day ended.

He gave up three runs on three hits while striking out five SDSU batters during his three innings of work.

Neal avoided his first loss since his freshman year with some help from the offense. The Sooners plated two runners in the fifth inning to take the 4-3 lead.

With senior pitcher Jeremy Erben on cruise control in relief work, the Sooners’ offense started to pull away by scoring two runs in the sixth inning. Sophomores second baseman Caleb Bushyhead and center fielder Chris Ellison each drove in a run to extend OU’s lead to 6-3.

Sophomore Cameron Seitzer put the game away in the seventh inning with OU’s second solo home run of the night. The long ball put the Sooners up 7-3.

Erben threw four solid innings, allowing only one run on a freak bounce in the seventh inning. He allowed five hits and struck out two batters while working out of jams in almost all of his four innings.

Erben was credited with the win, the second of his career.

Freshman pitcher Brandon Bargas held the Aztecs in check in the eighth inning by striking out three of the five batters he faced in the inning. Junior pitcher Ryan Duke got the final three outs of the game to record his first save of the season and his 17th of his career.

Buechele, Seitzer and junior second baseman Danny Black each had good nights at the plate.

Buechele and Seitzer each at a home run, and Buechele had two RBIs and Seitzer had one RBI. Black collected two hits with an RBI in his OU debut.

The Sooners return to action at 3 p.m. Saturday in San Diego for game one of a double header with the Aztecs. Game two is slated to start around 7 p.m.