University of Oklahoma Athletics

Thursday, March 18
Fullerton, Calif.
5:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

1
vs
2

Fresno State

Softball Hosts OU/Worth Invitational

Fox And Mena Blast Softball Past Illinois, 5-2

March 18, 2004 | Softball

By: Athletics Communications

FULLERTON, Calif.   The No. 7 Oklahoma softball team started the Kia Klassic by quickly dispensing Illinois 5-2 on Thursday morning at the Cal State Fullerton Softball Complex.  The Sooners improve to 25-6-1 and prepare to face No. 15 Fresno State at 5 p.m. (CST).

Oklahoma avenged a tie against Illinois that came earlier in the season during the LSU Tiger Classic (Feb. 6-8) championship game.  The game was called a deadlock after seven innings due to the travel constraints of both teams.  OU now has two wins against Illinois this season, after defeating the Fighting Illini 7-0 in its season opener, also at the Tiger Classic.

Freshman Jamie Fox snapped out of a recent slump in the second inning when she drove an 0-2 pitch to center field for a three-run home run.  The blast was Fox's fifth of the season and scored Jessica Leslie and Kristin Vesely, who led off the inning with singles.

A leadoff walk to Heather Scaglione chased Illinois starter Sherri Taylor in the third inning. Illini reliever Amanda Fortune didn't fair much better as the first batter she faced, sophomore Mariee Mena, hit a two-run home run down the right field line.  The blast was the second of the season and third RBI on the California road trip for the Escondido native.

Box Score

Nicole Denes worked herself into bases loaded jams in the first two innings but escaped without giving up a run. Denes couldn't get out of the third inning unscathed as she allowed one Illinois run.  Denes allowed 10 runners to reach base, five on walks, before being relieved by Kami Keiter with two on and no out in the top of the fourth inning.  Keiter quickly dispensed the Illini rally by striking out the side.

Keiter improved to 3-1 with the win in relief.  The junior ace had her unearned run streak snapped at 16 innings when she gave up a solo home run to Illini clean-up hitter Erin Montgomery in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Keiter struck out seven batters and allowed just three hits to the Illinois lineup.

Oklahoma will conclude pool play against Arizona Friday morning at 11 a.m. (CST).  Arizona is 29-0 on the season and the consensus No.  1 team in the land.  Arizona began pool  play with a 4-1 defeat of Illinois on Thursday evening.



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