Sooners And Lady Raiders Slated For Two Games Wednesday

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma softball team (31-16-1, 5-6 Big 12) looks to begin a new winning streak with a home doubleheader against Texas Tech on Wednesday evening. First pitch from the OU Softball Complex is slated for 5 p.m., with the second game beginning 30 minutes after the first.

On paper the Sooners have finished the toughest stretch of the Big 12 schedule with a 5-6 record. Left on the slate for the Sooners are Texas Tech (last place), Kansas (eighth place), Oklahoma State (sixth place) and Iowa State (ninth place). The lone non-conference game remaining for the Sooners' is a Senior Day rematch with Tulsa on May 11.

Texas Tech (19-30) has lost 10 straight games and is in the conference cellar with a 1-11 record. The Lady Raiders pitching staff is eighth in conference with overall ERA of 2.92. In conference only games Tech has a 4.74 ERA, which is nearly half a point worse than any other Big 12 team. The ace of the staff is Erin Crawford, who has a 9-10 record and 2.31 ERA.

The marquee match up of the weekend will feature two of the Big 12 best catchers. Sooner signal-caller Heather Scaglione leads the Big 12 in seven offensive categories and is actually hitting at a higher clip since the start of Big 12 play. Lady Raider signal caller Elyssa Sigala leads the Big 12 in walks and doubles, while she is tied for first (with Scaglione) in on-base percentage. She has 10 dingers (No. 3 in Big 12) this season and has a .371 batting average.

The first 250 fans in attendance at Wednesday's twin bill will receive free OU mouse pads. As a part of the Website Wednesday promotion fans can download coupons from SoonerSports.com for discounted admission to the twin bill.

After the midweek doubleheader the Sooners welcome Kansas for a two-game weekend set. The Oklahoma athletics department is going to officially dedicate Marita Hynes Field prior to the 2 p.m., Saturday game. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and take part in the pre-game festivities. The final game of the series is set for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon.

The first 250 fans in attendance for Saturday's game will receive free OU softball trading cards, which they can get signed during an autograph session following the game. The first 100 fans in attendance on Sunday will receive free Sooner Schooner Bobbleheads.

All four of OU games this week will be broadcast on the O-Zone. Fans can also access Wednesday's second game and the Sunday tilt with Kansas on local radio station KREF (1400 AM) with Brian Brinkley on play-by-play.

THIS WEEK
Wednesday, April 21
Texas Tech at Oklahoma (DH) 5 PM

Saturday, April 21
Kansas at Oklahoma 2 PM

Sunday, April 22
Kansas at Oklahoma 1 PM

IMPORTANT LINKS
OU Weekly Release | O-Zone Broadcast | Live Stats

VITAL STATS
Record - 31-16-1
Streaks - Lost two
USA Today/NFCA Ranking - No. 17
ESPN.com/USA Softball Ranking - No. 20
Big 12 Record - 5-6
Home Record - 16-3
Road Record - 5-8
Non-Conference Record - 26-10-1
Midwest Region Record - 11-9
Out of Region Record - 20-7-1

HYNES FIELD TO BE DEDICATED
When the University of Oklahoma announced Marita Hynes' retirement last summer, OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione said, “We all have a chance to leave a legacy of some kind and in Marita's case, it's spectacular and historic.”

That legacy is now made, at least in part, of something more tangible. Saturday, the OU Athletics Department and softball program will officially dedicate the playing surface as Marita Hynes Field.

“Marita meant so much to all of Sooner Athletics, our softball program and the general growth of the sport,” Castiglione said. “Of all the tributes she could receive, this one seems particularly appropriate. We're honored to have Marita's name on one of our facilities, and one that means so much to her.”

Hynes was initially appointed to the university's athletic staff in 1976 as the head softball and field hockey coach. When the field hockey program was discontinued, Hynes accepted additional administrative duties while continuing to serve as softball coach.

In 1984, Hynes was named coordinator of promotions for the department. She was named associate athletic director in July 1995. Most recently, Hynes had directed administrative supervision of volleyball, women's basketball, softball, men's and women's cross country, track, tennis, gymnastics, and the university's newest sport, women's soccer.

She served as project manager over the OU Softball Complex, which has earned a reputation as one of the finest facilities in the country. Hynes coordinated the development of the Headington Family Tennis Center and was actively involved in the construction of the OU Soccer Complex/John Crain Field, which opened for play in the fall of 2000. Other projects in which Hynes was involved included an addition to the Mosier Indoor Facility and renovations to John Jacobs Track and the McCasland Field House.

In recent years, national and state organizations have taken note of Hynes' numerous contributions. She has served as tournament director for the NCAA Women's College World Series for 12 years. For her contribution to the sport, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Softball Hall of Fame.

After 28 years of service, Hynes retired on July 1, 2003. She remains active with the athletics department in a limited capacity as coordinator of several of the championships hosted by OU.

RECENT HISTORY
Any OU hopes of claiming the Big 12 regular season title were banished by poor defensive efforts and a sweep at Nebraska last weekend. Nebraska played the part of the undefeated first place team as they took advantage of numerous Sooner miscues to stay perfect in Big 12 play at 10-0. The pair of losses dropped OU to 5-6 in conference with three series and a Bedlam rematch remaining on the conference slate.

The first game of the series from Bowlin Stadium was an ugly contest with the two teams combining for six errors and three unearned runs. OU's four errors proved more costly as they fell 2-1. Neither starting pitcher, Kami Keiter and Peaches James, surrendered an earned run while the OU hurler extended her streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 29.

The Sooners took a 1-0 lead in the first inning for the second consecutive game only to relinquish it on defensive miscues. A leadoff triple by Kristin Vesely and single by Norrelle Dickson put OU up 1-0. The lead stood for three innings when a pair of two-out errors by Norrelle Dickson allowed the tying run to score. Nebraska ended Keiter's unearned runs streak at 34 with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Nebraska went on for the 3-1 win.

STOPPING CRIME
In 48 games this season only 18 runners have attempted to steal a base against junior catcher Heather Scaglione and she's gunned down 11 of them (61 percent). Last year 38 runners tried to the steal on the Sooner signal caller and she tossed out 14 (38 percent). Scaglione had a streak of 34 straight games without allowing a stolen base snapped against Arizona (3/19). Coach Gasso has taken to calling her the best catcher in the country and it's clear that Scaglione's reputation is preceding her.

PROMOTING THEFT
Baseball statisticians say individuals need to successfully steal 80 percent of the time to help their team. How about if your team completes the theft at an 85 percent rate? The Sooners have swiped 78 bases on 90 attempts (87 percent) this season. Twelve Sooners have recorded a stolen base with Norrelle Dickson at the top of the pack with 23. The Sooners have been perfect on the base paths (11-for-11) since the start of the Big 12 play.

The Sooners work on the base paths is an added dimension from last season. In 2003 OU stole 56 bases on 88 attempts (64 percent). A safe estimate is that OU will play 13 more games, including the Big 12 Tournament, for a regular season total of 61. At their current rate OU is projected to steal 99 bases, which is 13 shy of the school record of 112 set in 2000.

READY FOR PRIMETIME
There is no waiting in the shadows for freshmen on the Oklahoma softball team. Coach Gasso expects contributions immediately. This season the Sooners have had to rely on freshman more than any season since 2000. Freshman have accounted for about three starting spots (32%) in every game. Jamie Fox (third) and Norrelle Dickson (short) are two of five Sooners who have been penciled in the initial lineup in all 46 games this year. Amber Spaulding, Stacia Aleman and Jessica Johnson have accounted for 58 percent of the starting nods at designated player, while Spaulding has also started in right field 19 times (40 percent). Fox, Dickson, Aleman and Spaulding, who have received the most playing time of the rookie group, have a combined batting average of .300.

MENA TIME
Sophomore Mariee Mena has picked the right time to find her swing and that stroke has solidified her as the starting right fielder of late. As of April 19, Mena was hitting .421 in conference, which would rank third if she had the necessary at bats (shy three). The Escondido, Calif., native has improved her season batting average 27 points since the start of the Big 12 season. She was hitting .260 following the Kia Klassic and is currently swinging at a .287 clip. Her .287 average is the fifth best on the squad, while her conference number ranks second behind Scaglione. Mena was limited to pinch hitting duties against Nebraska due to a knee injury.

OF NOTE
Oklahoma (No. 20) is not the highest ranked Big 12 team in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top-25 Poll for the first time this season ... Nebraska has taken the Big 12's top spot at No. 15 ... OU's current ranking is its lowest since the final poll of the 1999 season ... With 16 losses this season, OU has already surpassed its loss total from 2003 when they went 47-14 ... The most losses by an OU team under Patty Gasso is 23, which came during Gasso's first year (43-23 in 1995) at OU ... OU's current loss total ranks as the highest since 2002 when the Sooners went 49-16 ... Jessica Leslie (left field) is the only remaining regular who has not committed an error this season ... Norrelle Dickson has recorded multiple hits in 19 games this year, while Heather Scaglione has done it 15 times ... OU's batting average has dropped 38 points since the start of the Kia Klassic (.326 to .288) ... OU is 3-10 against ranked team's this season and 2-3 against teams currently in the NFCA top-10 ... Dickson, No. 1 in the Big 12 in hits (58) and No. 7 in batting average (.363), leads all freshman in batting average, hits, and stolen bases (23) ... Heather Scaglione claimed sole possession of ninth place on the OU single season list for home runs with her 13th blast of the season hit against Missouri (4/10) ... OU is hitting just .190 (11-for-58) with the base loaded this season, although they are hitting a robust .309 with runners on base ... Leadoff hitters are getting on at a .349 clip with Christina Enea (.452), April Valdez (.417) and Norrelle Dickson (.412), Mariee Mena (.429) and Heather Scaglione (.457) all hitting well above .400 when they start innings ... With runners at third base and less than two outs, OU is hitting .462 as a team, although with two outs OU is hitting .281 ... Kami Keiter notched the 53rd complete game of her career, which moves her into sole possession of sixth place on the OU career list ... Keiter also owns sixth place in career wins (56) thanks to victories against Oklahoma State and Missouri.

LIVING UP TO THE HYPE
Norrelle Dickson came into OU as perhaps the most hyped recruit in the program's history. The speedy leadoff hitter has definitely fit the bill. Dickson is second on the squad in batting average (.363) and leads the Sooners in stolen bases (23) while ranking among the top-10 in the Big 12 in five categories (batting average, stolen bases, on-base percentage, hits and runs). She leads the Big 12 in hits, is seventh in batting average and eighth in on-base percentage. Dickson, the fastest player on OU's roster, was caught stealing in the first game of the season and then she ran off 18 consecutive swipes before being thrown out against Fresno State (3/18).

DENES SIDELINED FOR SEASON
Oklahoma starting pitcher Nicole Denes will be sidelined for the remainder of her sophomore season with a heart arrhythmia (medically termed Supraventricular Tachycardia). Denes had an irregular heart beat while OU was at Texas A&M (3/28) and has been sidelined since. The condition was diagnosed by OU athletics staff cardiologist Dr. Phil Adamson. Denes will be on medication for six weeks before the medical staff will determine if surgery is needed. Denes finished her 2004 campaign with a 16-6 record and 1.77 ERA in 142.1 innings of work.

AN EYE ON THE RECORD BOOK
Speedy freshman Norrelle Dickson and her 23 stolen bases already rank as the sixth best single-season total in OU softball history. She is within striking distance of the third best single-season total of 28 by LaKisha Washington in 1998. Heather Scaglione already has the ninth best single-season marks in home runs and base on balls.

Stolen Bases
1.	46	Angie Holwell	1997
3.	28	Lakisha Washington	1998
4.	25	Christy Ring	2000
5.	24	Kelly Brown	1978
6.	23	Erin Evans	2000
	23	Norrelle Dickson	2004

Home Runs
1.	20	Lynette Velasquez	1999
	20	Lisa Carey	2000
5.	15	Ashli Barrett	2001
	15	Becky Burroughs	1994
	15	Leah Gulla	2003
8.	14	Andrea Davis	2000
9.	13	Heather Scaglione	2004

Base On Balls
1.	41	Casey Dickson	1997
6.	30	Three Tied
9.	28	Heather Scaglione	2004
10.	27	Kelli Braitsch	2001
	27	Heather Scaglione	2003
Current	22	Christina Enea	2004

CAREER CLIMBERS
Below is a list of Sooners currently ranked in the OU career record books and who is above them on the respective lists:

Complete Games
1.	101	Patti Graham	'81-84
5.	63	Lana Moran	'97-00
6.	53	Kami Keiter	'02-Present

Innings Pitched
1.	928.2	Jennifer Stewart	'99-02
5.	621.1	Lana Moran	'97-00
6.	539.1	Kami Keiter	'02-Present

Strikeouts
1.	805	Jill Most	'94-97
5.	420	Lana Moran	'97-00
6.	415	Kami Keiter	'02-Present

Appearances
1.	167	Jennifer Stewart	'99-02
4.	110	Patti Graham	'81-84
5.	108	Kami Keiter	'02-Present

Games Started
1.	135	Jennifer Stewart	'99-02
5.	89	Lana Moran	'97-00
6.	56	Kami Keiter	'02-Present

Victories
1.	115	Jennifer Stewart	'99-02
5.	63	Patti Graham	'81-84
6.	56	Kami Keiter	'02-Present

Shutouts
1.	38	Jill Most	'94-97
6.	18	Jennifer Sherman	'92-95
	18	Kami Keiter	'02-Present

Lowest ERA
1.	0.94	Kami Keiter	'02-Present
2.	1.00	Cheryl Jacobs	'78-80
	1.00	Patti Graham	'81-84

Runs Batted In
1.	190	Ashli Barrett	'98-01
8.	106	Cari Graves	'89-92
9.	105	Christina Enea	'02-Present

Home Runs
1.	46	Ashlie Barrett	'98-01
6.	27	Lynette Velasquez	'98-99
	27	Casey Dickson	'94-97
	27	Heather Scaglione	'02-Present

Doubles
1.	56	Lisa Carey	'98-01
7.	32	Cari Graves	'89-92
	32	Christina Enea	'02-Present

Base On Balls
1.	118	Casey Dickson	'94-97
6.	72	Lisa Carey	'98-01
7.	66	Heather Scaglione	'02-Present
8.	65	Leah Gulla	'00-03
9.	63	Christina Enea	'02-Present

Slugging Percentage
1.	.657	Becky Burroughs	'93-94
5.	.582	Kelli Braitsch	'00-03
6.	.554	Heather Scaglione	'02-04

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners And Lady Raiders Slated For Two Games Wednesday

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