OU Deals Tar Heels A Pair Of Losses

The No. 4 Oklahoma softball team powered its way to an early advantage against North Carolina and rolled to a doubleheader sweep in OU/Nike Classic action Saturday afternoon. OU's offense was firing on all cylinders as Heather Scaglione, Jamie Fox and April Valdez all blasted home runs to give the Sooners an easy 10-0 run-rule (five innings) victory in the first game. In the second game, Valdez picked up her second victory of the season as OU won 4-2.

“In the first game our offense was amazing,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “We took advantage of every situation and never backed off. I was disappointed that we left 10 runners on base in game two but the end result was good. April Valdez really showed great poise in the circle during game two.”

It took two innings for OU to get to UNC ace Crystal Cox but the result produced the Sooners biggest inning of the season. Junior Christina Enea began the offensive onslaught with a double to the left-center gap that scored Kristin Vesely and Norrelle Dickson. Scaglione promptly blasted the next pitch - a hung screw ball - out of the park and off the top of the score board past the left field fence. Five batters later, April Valdez hit a hung curve ball over the right field fence for her first career grand slam and the second home run of her Sooner career. After three innings OU was up 8-0.

“It was a curve she left up,” said Valdez. “I saw it well and was just trying to put it in play.”

Jamie Fox added the final two runs with a two-run home run in bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Nicole Denes improved to 7-1 on the season after tossing her third shutout of the year.

No. 4 Oklahoma 10, North Carolina 0 (Box Score)

In the back half of the twinbill, Valdez was the standout player for the third consecutive game. After tossing a shutout in her second career start last night, Valdez limited the Tar Heels to two runs on six hits while not allowing a walk and striking out three batters. She also extended her team-high hitting streak to 10 games, which is also a career best.

“I felt in control on the mound and was really able to stay in the zone,” said Valdez. “I could tell my confidence rubbed off on the team because we rebounded well after putting ourselves in a couple tough situations (OU had a season-high three errors).”

Scaglione, Enea and Denes picked up RBI in the second game.

No. 4 Oklahoma 4, North Carolina 2 (Box Score)

OU improved to 11-1-1 on the season, while the Tar Heels fell to 5-5. OU returns to action in the OU/Nike Classic tomorrow with a doubleheader against Sam Houston State. The twin bill begins at 2:30 and follows a two-gamer between UNC and Louisville.

In earlier Saturday action at the OU/Nike Classic, Louisville took both ends of a doubleheader from Sam Houston State by scores of 10-7 and 3-2.

Admission to the OU/Nike Classic is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

OU/Nike Classic Tourney Central