Softball Falls To Arizona, Faces Nebraska Saturday Morning

FULLERTON, Calif. - The No. 7 Oklahoma softball team couldn't match the all-around effort of top-ranked Arizona in a 9-1 loss Thursday morning at the Kia Klassic in Fullerton, Calif. Arizona starter Alicia Hollowell struck out 12 Sooners and allowed a single run to the OU offense. The loss dropped the Sooners to 25-8-1, while Arizona remains the only undefeated team in Division I with a 34-0 record.

The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. A pair of singles and a pair of doubles did the damage off OU starter Nicole Denes.

Junior Jessica Leslie ignited a Sooner rally in the bottom of the third inning. Leslie led off with a single to left and then stole second base after an attempted sacrifice by Amber Spaulding did not work. April Valdez fouled off four pitches and worked herself into a 2-2 count with two outs. On the eighth pitch of the at bat, Valdez lined a single up the middle that was just out of the reach of Wildcats second baseman Samantha Quintero. Leslie came around to score as the ball rolled into center. After three innings the Sooners trailed 3-1.

Box Score | Kia Klassic Tourney Central

Arizona catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest put the game out of reach with a grand slam to center field in the fifth inning. Before the blast, Denes was rolling and had allowed only two Wildcat runners from the second through the fourth inning. The Wildcats added another two runs in the seventh for the final margin of 9-1.

Heather Scaglione's streak of games without allowing a runner to steal a base against her was snapped at 35. Scaglione threw out Wildcat speedster Wendy Allen in the third inning but couldn't gun down right fielder Allison Von Liechtenstein in the sixth. OU opponents are 1-for-8 on stolen base attempts against the Sooners signal caller this season. Leslie's single, which produced OU's only run, extended her season-high hitting streak to eight games.

OU and its 1-2 Klassic record advance to championship play as the No. 3 seed from Pool D. The Sooners will play No. 20 Nebraska at 11 a.m. (CST) on the main field at Cal State Fullerton. If OU defeats Nebraska, it will play No. 9 Washington at 9 p.m., on a field which is yet to be determined.

The contest between OU and Nebraska will be broadcast live by KBPK and run through SoonerSports.com. Live stats will be also be available for the Sooners contest with the Huskers. Links for both free services are below:

KBPK Radio Broadcast | Live Stats