Errors Cost Softball Again In 3-1 Loss To Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. The 17th-ranked Oklahoma softball team committed four errors for the second consecutive game and was swept by No. 18 Nebraska in the conclusion of the two-game series on Sunday afternoon.

The pair of losses dropped OU to 31-16-1 on the season and 5-6 in Big 12 play. The Huskers remained perfect in conference action at 10-0 and improved to 31-12 overall.

It took the Sooners two batters in the Sunday rematch to equal their output of one run and two hits in the Saturday opener.

Leadoff hitter Kristin Vesely hit a towering shot to center field that bounced off the chain-link fence and ricochetted to the left fielder. Vesely easily beat the throw for her third triple of the season. One pitch later she trotted home on a single by No. 2 hitter Norrelle Dickson.

The meat of the Sooner order couldn't move Dickson from second and OU went into the bottom half of the first with a 1-0 lead.

Box Score

The Sooner's first inning score was the first earned run plated against the Huskers at Bowlin Stadium this season. The streak spanned seven games and 49 innings.

The one run advantage held up until the fourth inning when a pair of two-out errors by Dickson allowed the Huskers to tie the game 1-1.

An error by third baseman Jamie Fox and bunt single by Husker Jessica Yoachim put runners at first and third with no outs in the fifth inning. Keiter forced the Huskers best hitter, Nicole Trimboli, into a rally-killing double play. Trimboli grounded to first baseman Christina Enea, who winged it home where Heather Scaglione blocked NU speedster Anne Steffan before whipping it back to first to complete the double play. Keiter got cleanup hitter Trisha Tannahill to ground out weakly and end the fifth frame.

The Huskers would not be deterred as first baseman Jamie Waldecker ended the deadlock with a leadoff solo home run in the sixth inning. The shot snapped Keiter's season-high streak of 34 innings without allowing an earned run. The Huskers weren't done as they would plate another unearned run on a Keiter throwing error. The error was the fourth of the weekend for Keiter.

The Sooners mustered only three hits after the first inning with two coming in an ill-fated seventh inning rally. OU couldn't plate a run with Heather Scaglione and Jade Prather (pinch running for Christina Enea) both in scoring position with one out.

NU starter Peaches James picked up the win and improved to 26-5 on the season, while Keiter took the loss and sits at 9-9 on the year.

The Sooners are just 5-8 in official road games this season and 1-6 on the road in conference action.

Oklahoma has committed four errors on three occasions this season with the other coming at Baylor on March 29. OU is 0-3 when they commit four errors.

Nebraska swept the regular season series from OU for the first time since 2001.