Keiter Shuts Out Missouri In Both Ends Of Doubleheader

NORMAN, Okla. Battery mates Kami Keiter and Heather Scaglione provided all the pitching and offense the 17th-ranked Oklahoma softball team needed in a doubleheader sweep of Missouri on Saturday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex. The pair of wins improves OU's Big 12 record to 5-4 and its season mark to 31-14-1. The Sooners knocked Missouri (18-21, 5-2) from first place to fourth in the Big 12 with the sweep, while OU moved into fifth place in conference.

Keiter tossed a one hit shutout and Scaglione had the game winning RBI as OU won 5-0 in the opener. The story was exactly the same for the Sooner veterans in game two as OU polished off the crucial sweep with a 1-0 victory.

“Offensively, we have received contributions up and down the lineup the last three games,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “Our pitching and offense are regrouping. We have some momentum going and we are looking forward to playing (Big 12 leading) Nebraska next weekend. That will be the biggest series of the season for us.”

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

In the first game of the twin bill Scaglione (1-for-2, 1 run, 2 RBI), the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, put a pair of runs on the board with a two-run shot off the left field scoreboard. The blast is the 13th of the season for the junior catcher, who leads the Big 12 in home runs and RBI (38).

Jamie Fox (2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI) and Kristin Vesely (2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI) each laced run-scoring doubles to the outfield wall in the fourth inning. Fox was at it again in the sixth when her single to center brought home Jessica Leslie (0-for-2, 1 run).

On the offensive end in game two it was Scaglione's (1-for-2, 1 RBI) third inning sacrifice fly that scored April Valdez (1-for-2, 1 run) and put OU ahead for good, 1-0. OU threatened numerous times in the second game but failed to capitalize on seven hits, which led to nine runners left on base. Right fielder Mariee Mena was perfect at the plate on the day going 5-for-5 with a double and base on balls.

OU starter Kami Keiter (9-7) dominated from the outset. She allowed one hit in both games - an infield single in the first game and a single to right field in the second game - while not allowing a runner past second base the entire day. In fact only three Tiger runners even reached second base and the ball only left the infield five times.

“We have seen the Kami Keiter of old over the last three games,” said Gasso.

The pair of shutouts gives Keiter four on the season, while the one-hitters improve her season total to three in that category. The All-American will lead the Sooners into Nebraska next weekend with a streak of 22 innings without allowing an earned run.

“They were aggressive at the plate, which helps my approach. Plus I had good movement on my ball today, which allowed me to execute our game plan,” said Keiter. “Our defense was great today. I wasn't trying to get strike outs, just good outs.”

Keiter will square off against NU ace Peaches James who has tossed shutouts in six of the last seven games. Keiter and the Sooners defeated James and the Huskers, 1-0, during the Kia Klassic on March 20.

The Sooners touched up MU ace Erin Kalka (14-13), who had a 0.24 ERA during conference play coming into the contest. OU plated four runs on seven hits against the Tiger hurler in the opener and one unearned run on six hits in the night cap.

Oklahoma has a week off before its two game set in Lincoln against Nebraska (29-11, 7-0) on April 17 and 18. Nebraska has won 11 straight games but has dropped three of the last four contests against OU.