Softball Upset By Central Michigan

Ten has been an unlucky number for the No. 5 Oklahoma softball team this season. The Sooners, who dropped to 13-3-1 with a 3-2 loss to Central Michigan at the NFCA Leadoff Classic Friday night, have left 10 runners on base in all three of their losses this year. Central Michigan was able to do what OU couldn't, as they took advantage of a couple Sooner miscues to knock off OU.

Oklahoma quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Central Michigan in the bottom of the first inning. Heather Scaglione's third RBI of the day plated junior April Valdez and gave OU the early 1-0 advantage. OU's offense went into a funk after the first as they would strand eight runners over the next five innings.

Boxscore

Central Michigan took advantage of a couple OU miscues to pull ahead 2-1 in the top of the third inning. An RBI single by Lindsey Calme plated the Central Michigan leadoff hitter Kari Hohs. The throw to home got away and Calme advanced to third. The next Chippewa batter laid down a squeeze bunt to score Calme and give CMU the one run lead. Kristen Dohndt extended the CMU lead to 3-1 with a solo home run in the fifth inning.

OU's offense woke up in the bottom of the seventh with the game on the line. Junior April Valdez led off with a single and was promptly driven home on a double by junior Christina Enea. Enea would be the 10th runner left on for OU, as they could not capitalize with the tying run on base and nobody out in the final innning.

OU run-ruled (six innings) UMass in its early game by a score of 9-0. Denes was dominant as she tossed her fourth shutout of the season. Denes allowed just one hit and struck out six batters. Scaglione hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season, while freshman Jamie Fox hit a three-run blast for her fourth home run of the season.

OU's other two losses came to Louisville (2/20) and Sam Houston State (2/22).

Oklahoma returns to action in the Leadoff Classic early Saturday morning for a 10 a.m. contest against DePaul.