Softball Begins With Bang, 7-0 Win Over Illinois

A four-run third inning put the Oklahoma softball team up for good as it cruised to a 7-0 victory over Illinois Friday afternoon in Baton Rouge, La. OU head coach Patty Gasso began her 10th season and the LSU Tiger Classic by claiming the 450th win of her Sooner coaching career. Her career record with OU now stands at 450-140 (.763).

"It was a great way to begin the season," said Gasso. "We came out and played well in all phases of the game."

Sophomore starting pitcher Nicole Denes picked up the first shut out of her career as she limited the Fighting Illini to just four hits on the day. Denes sent the Illini lineup down in order four times, while tallying five strikeouts and walking none. Denes and the Sooners improved to 1-0 on the season, while Illinois dropped to 0-1.

Box Score

"I think everybody in the softball program is thrilled for Nicole," said Gasso. "You can see that Nicole is headed in the right direction. I was very pleased with her command on the mound and her offense was an added bonus."

Denes shut down an early Illinois rally in the first inning and then struck on the offensive end in the top half of the second. Denes' two out triple to the right field wall plated freshman Jamie Fox and began OU's scoring.

In the third inning Kristin Vesely led off with a walk and moved up a base on Norrelle Dickson's second single of the game. Junior Jessica Leslie doubled off the left field wall to drive in Vesely and Dickson. A pitching change by Illinois could not slow the Sooner offense as junior Heather Scaglione took the third pitch from reliever Megan Huitink over the left field fence for a two-run home run.

Denes' third trip to the plate produced two runs and another extra base hit. In this at bat, a double that was inches shy of leaving the park brought home Leslie and freshman Amber Spaulding. Denes finished with three RBI while going 2-for-4.

"Norrelle Dickson, Katie Overton and Heather Scaglione played outstanding defensively," said Gasso. "Heather did a great job handling Nicole on the mound. Norrelle and Heather also put together nice offensive games."

OU All-American Kami Keiter is not expected to play for the Sooners this weekend due to a strained biceps muscle in her pitching (left) arm.

"It's a precautionary measure," said Gasso. "We don't want Kami to throw until she is 100 percent."

OU returns to the field at approximately 4 p.m., today when they face Southeastern Louisiana at Tiger Park.