23rd Straight Win Ties OU Record

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 9 Oklahoma softball team (25-4) tied a school record by winning its 23rd consecutive game during Saturday afternoon play in the OU/Worth Invitational. The Sooners defeated Nicholls State, 4-1, and run-ruled (five innings) UTEP, 9-0, to tie the 2001 team for the longest winning streak of all-time. OU's streak also became the longest current streak in NCAA Division I, surpassing Michigan (off weekend) and their 21-game streak.

Two other streaks of note were extended by Sooner players. Junior Kristin Vesely extended her OU record hitting streak to 22 games while going 6-for-8 with three RBI and four runs on the day. Senior Kami Keiter extended her streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 66 while picking up a save and win on the day.

“This team has played at a very high level for quite awhile, but what really encourages me is that we continue to improve each week, “ said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “Look at today's game for example. Our leading run producer (Christina Enea) was sidelined, we didn't have any home runs and our offense still didn't miss a beat.”

Box Scores: OU 4, Nicholls State 1 | OU 9, UTEP 0 (Five Inn.)

Nicholls State proved to be one of the Sooners' biggest challenges of the win streak. The Lady Colonels threatened against starter Nicole Denes on numerous occasions but were only able to score one run while leaving eight runners on base.

Denes picked up the win and remains the only unbeaten pitcher on the OU staff at 7-0. Denes worked five innings, allowing seven hits, one run, one walk and striking out six. In the sixth inning she handed the ball off to senior Kami Keiter, who worked flawlessly through the final two innings for her first save of the season.

The top three batters in OU's lineup each had one RBI. Leadoff hitter Norrelle Dickson drove in OU's first run in the second inning, while the second score was plated on a Nicholls State error.

Leslie knocked in the third run on her 12th double of the season in the sixth inning. Leslie, who replaced injured Christina Enea in the No. 3 spot, improved her season RBI total to 28 and her weekly total to eight. The Raytown, Mo., native had seven RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Valparaiso on Wednesday.

The fourth and final run was knocked home by Vesely, who saved her most impressive work for rubber game of the tourney twin bill.

Vesely went 4-for-4 in the night cap against UTEP with three runs, one double, one triple and two RBI. During the record streak the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week is hitting .623 with 48 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, one home run, 23 RBI, a .857 slugging percentage, a .646 on-base percentage and 14 stolen bases.

“I really don't know what else to say about her," commented Gasso. "She steps into that box and dominates the pitcher, regardless of who she is facing. To run a streak to 22 games, you have to be able to do a lot of things with the stick and Kristin is doing that. She has a ton of extra base hits, but what is really scary as an opposing pitcher is her ability to drop down a bunt for a single or beat out an infield grounder. Then you have to throw in her ability to slap hit. The way she is hitting right now, she might be the toughest out in the country.”

Vesely ignited all three of OU's rallies in the five inning run rule defeat of UTEP. She had a leadoff hit and scored on an error by the UTEP outfielder in the first inning. In the third frame she led off with a single and scored on a Jamie Fox sacrifice fly. In the fifth inning she had the second hit, scored the second run and knocked in two with a double in her second at bat of the inning. Her efforts helped the Sooners put the game out of reach with seven runs in the inning.

Also contributing to the seven-run fifth frame was Leslie, who had two RBI to run her team leading total to 30 and her weekly total to 10. Scaglione, Dickson and freshman Alison Horne also recorded one RBI.

Kami Keiter worked four innings of two-hit ball against the UTEP Miners to improve to 12-1 on the season. She struck out five batters while only allowing one to reach scoring position before handing off to freshman Jadyn Smith in the fifth inning. Smith allowed two runners but had a pair of clutch strikeouts to escape unscathed and keep the combined shutout intact.

“Kami hasn't thrown in a week and the rest showed in the way she threw today," said Gasso. "When she has a good amount of rest between outings, she is really tough to face. That has been the key to her streak and the key to her season. We haven't had to overuse her like in years past. She has always been one of the best pitchers in the country and this year she has taken it to another level.”

The Sooners will go after the OU record for longest winning streak on Sunday afternoon in another tourney doubleheader. OU begins the twin bill with Nicholls State at 1:15 p.m. and will close tourney play against UTEP at 3:30 p.m.

Game Notes: OU has recorded 10 or more hits in 16 games this season, including each of the last five ... OU has outscored its opponents 182-29 during the 23-game streak ... During the 2001 streak, OU outscored its opponents 182-25 ... Keiter has been a part of four combined shutouts this season, while Smith has thrown in three ... Keiter is off to the best start of her career in terms of record (12-1), ERA (0.29) and batting average (.339) ... As team OU is hitting .412 during the winning streak ... OU has scored 202 runs in 29 games (6.96 per game) this season ... The Sooners scored 304 in 68 games last season ... Enea is sidelined until at least next weekend with a sprained ankle.

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