Softball Back On Track, Sweeps Doubleheader

NORMAN, Okla. The Oklahoma softball team got back to its winning ways with a doubleheader sweep of Texas Tech on Wednesday night at the OU Softball Complex. The Sooners took the opener 7-3 and used some late inning heroics, courtesy of sophomore Kristin Vesely, to take the final game 4-3.

Oklahoma upped its season record to 33-16-1 and keeps paces in rugged Big 12 with an improved 7-6 record. Tech drops to 19-33 overall and 1-13 in Big 12 play.

“It's a pair of wins and it erases a lot of memories from last weekend,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “I know this team has the potential to put together a serious run, we are just waiting for everything to fall into place. I think we worked towards that tonight.”

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

The Sooners posted seven runs and recorded their eighth straight defeat of Texas Tech in the opener of the twin bill. It's no surprise to OU fans that junior catcher Heather Scaglione was the star of the game. Scaglione was perfect at the plate with a 3-for-3 effort that included a base on balls. She drove in a single run in the first inning and a pair of runs in the fourth inning to finish with three RBI in the contest.

Freshman Jamie Fox helped the Sooners post four first-inning runs with a two-run double. The Sooner freshman has collected multiple RBI in nine games this season and has been especially potent at home where she has recorded 18 of her 26 total RBI. Fellow rookie Stacia Aleman earned her first RBI since March 13 with a base loaded walk in the first frame.

The final run for the Sooners was plated by Jessica Leslie with single in the sixth inning.

OU ace Kami Keiter (10-9) allowed two earned runs in the first inning when Lady Raider Natalie Kula drove a double to the left field wall. After the first inning, the junior lefty settled down and gave up five hits while striking out five batters over the final six frames. Keiter notched her 10th win of the season, which marks the third consecutive season that the All-American has won at least 10 games.

In game two the Sooners posted a three spot in the second inning. The big blow was provided by Keiter who drove in her first run of the season with a frozen-rope double to the right field wall. The final two runs came home on a throwing error by Tech shortstop Ashley Parker.

Keiter was cruising until the fifth inning when defensive lapses allowed the Lady Raiders to tie up the game. Only one of Tech's three runs was earned. The earned run came on a double by first baseman Andrea Joachims. Keiter was pulled heading into the sixth inning and relieved by freshman Jessica Johnson, who improved to 5-0 with the relief victory. Keiter's day was not done though. She returned with one out in the seventh inning to collect her third save of the season.

Freshman Amber Spaulding scored the winning run in the sixth inning on a RBI single to right field from Vesely. The Sooner center fielder has been hitting at a .375 clip since taking over in the leadoff spot six games ago.

The Lady Raiders wanted nothing to do with Scaglione at the plate in the second game. Scaglione was intentionally walked twice for a doubleheader total of four free passes. The group of walks moved her single season total to 32, which ties her for the fourth best single-season total in OU history. She is in a deadlock with Christy Ring who trotted down to first base 32 times in 2000.

Defensively, dazzling plays were turned in by Johnson, Vesely and Scaglione. Johnson snared a line shot back up the box that would have done damage if it didn't find her glove. Vesely's diving snare in center field in the fifth inning kept the game at a deadlock, while Scaglione gunned out attempted stealer number 12 of 19 this season.

Senior Katie Overton started both games at shortstop and freshman Norrelle Dickson moved to third for the first time in her career. Dickson, who's natural position is third base, had started all 48 games prior at short, while fellow rookie Jamie Fox had garnered all the starting nods at third. Fox was penciled in the starting lineup at designated player (game one) and right field.

“We changed up the infield in response to our struggles in Lincoln last weekend,” said Gasso. “When I told Norrelle that she was going to play third, she did backflips. We need to take advantage of her quickness at the corner position and Katie Overton showed that she can fit the bill at shortstop.”

The Sooners host a two-game set with Kansas this weekend. Saturday's game is set to start at 2 p.m., with the official dedication of Marita Hynes Field preceding the game. The rubber game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.

Softball Back On Track, Sweeps Doubleheader

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