Big Bats Pace Softball To 6-2 Win

CLEARWATER, Fla. After trailing by two runs for five innings the Oklahoma softball team's offense exploded for six late runs to defeat Appalachian State, 6-2, in Friday afternoon action at the Clearwater Invitational (Fla.). A trio of pitchers combined to allow Appalachian just one hit while striking out 13 Mountaineers. The big blows on offense came from starting pitcher Nicole Denes and senior first baseman Christina Enea.

OU had the bases loaded with no outs in the first inning. Then their offense disappeared and a pitchers duel developed.

Appalachian State was winning the duel as starter Jen Hurley (0-1) limited OU to one hit through five innings. After walking two batters and giving up a single to Enea in the first inning, Hurley settled down and worked out of the jam without allowing a run.

Box Score

OU starter Nicole Denes struck out six batters and allowed one hit in three innings of work. The junior righty got into trouble in the third inning when she gave up a double to put Mountaineer runners at second and third. A pair of OU errors followed and Appalachian State took a 2-0 lead with both scores being unearned. OU's staff is yet to allow an earned run in 12 innings of play this season.

Freshman Stacy Braddock made her OU debut in the fourth inning and immediately settled in. Braddock was perfect, sending down all nine batters she faced with four coming on strike outs. She was the pitcher of record (1-0), earning her first collegiate victory in her first appearance.

“Stacy really had great movement,” said Gasso. “Everything was working for her and she had complete control in the circle.”

After threatening in the fourth and fifth, the Sooners finally broke through in the sixth inning. Senior Heather Scaglione roped her fourth double of the day (three in earlier contest against Florida Atlantic) to start the inning. One batter later it was junior Nicole Denes' turn.

Denes crushed an inside rise ball over the left field fence to tie up the game. Denes had a three-run blast and four RBI against Florida Atlantic in the season opener earlier in the day.

“Nicole saved us today,” admitted Gasso. “She came through when we needed a spark. Once it went over we knew that we would come back to win the game.”

A pair of crucial errors by Mountaineer shortstop Dawn Malone would open the flood gates for the Sooners. The first error allowed freshman Savannah Long to reach first base with two outs. Sophomore Norrelle Dickson followed by punching a single over third base to put the Sooners ahead 3-2.

Next up was Kristin Vesely, who reached on an infield bobble to load the bases. A wild pitch plated Hollis and then Enea cleared the bases with a single to left field.

Suddenly the Sooners were ahead 6-2 after having two hits and no runs through five innings.

Freshman Jadyn Smith made her collegiate debut in the seventh inning and closed out the contest by striking out the side. Combined, the freshmen pitchers had four innings of perfect work and seven strikeouts.

“Jadyn was waiting for us to call on her and when she got her chance she was fired up and made the most of it,” commented Gasso.

The No. 4 Sooners will continue Clearwater Invitational play on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. (CST) when they face Louisville. OU will also play host Florida at 4 p.m. and fans can listen to a live broadcast through Florida's official athletics website by clicking on this LIVE BROADCAST LINK.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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