Softball Needs Extra Frames To Sweep Twin Bill

The No. 6 Oklahoma softball needed extra frames to sweep a doubleheader from New Mexico in Friday action at the OU/Worth Invitational. Both games went eight innings with the Sooners prevailing 3-2 and 9-5, to improve to 20-5-1 on the season. Freshmen Stacia Aleman (five RBI) and Amber Spaulding (three RBI) powered the OU offense while junior Kami Keiter dominated in the circle during five innings of work.

The Sooners posted one run in the first, second and fourth innings of the opening game. Junior Christina Enea drove in the initial run in the first inning. Freshman Stacia Aleman picked up an RBI in her first two at-bats. On the game, Aleman went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Nicole Denes kept the Lobo offense at bay through the first six innings. Denes struck out eight and allowed just one run on four hits through six innings. New Mexico touched up the Sooner starter for two runs to tie the game in the seventh inning.

New Mexico ace Ashley Perkins worked herself out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning and sent the game into extra sessions. Based on tournament rules the eighth inning was played under international tiebreaker rules with a runner being placed at second base at the beginning of the frame

After Denes shut down the Lobos in their half of the eighth, the Sooners immediately went to work. OU quickly loaded the bases for sophomore Mariee Mena, who provided the heroics with a single to center field. It is the second time this season that Mena plated the game winning run in OU's last at-bat. Mena also came up with the clutch hit in a 5-4 defeat of North Texas on Feb. 18.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

Dickson began the second game with one of the rarest sights in the sport of softball - an inside the park home run. Dickson laced a drive that got by the lunging right fielder and carried all the way to the wall. Dickson wheeled around the bases and beat the throw home by two steps.

The Sooners posted a four-spot on the scoreboard before New Mexico could record an out in the fourth inning. The big blow was a single by Amber Spaulding that plated two Sooners. Aleman also collected her third RBI of the day, while Kristin Vesely contributed an RBI double in the inning.

All-American Kami Keiter started the second game and sparkled in her home debut. The junior, who missed the first month of the season with a strained biceps in her left arm, needed only 54 pitches to notch five scoreless innings. Keiter concluded her start by retiring 10 consecutive batters and finished with just three hits allowed and two strikeouts. Keiter has not allowed an earned run in 10 innings of work this season and has given up only five hits.

Sooner relievers Denes and Jessica Johnson did not have the success of Keiter. The duo combined to allow five runs, which allowed the Lobos to tie the game at 5-5 in the seventh. Iraine Ogas tied the game with a three run home run off Johnson in the bottom of the seventh.

The Sooners came back with a avengeance in their half of the eighth inning. OU torched Lobo reliever Amy Dumas for five game-clinching runs. Five Sooners picked up RBI during the decisive rally.

Spaulding finished the game 2-for-4 with a career-high three RBI. Vesely and Aleman contributed two RBI in the final game.

OU returns to tourney action Saturday at 2:30 p.m., when they face McNeese State in a doubleheader.