Sooners' Streak Sets Record At 25

NORMAN, Okla. -- It has been five weeks and 25 wins since the No. 9 Oklahoma softball team (26-4) lost a game. On Sunday, the Sooners claimed consecutive wins No. 24 and 25 to set the program record for the longest winning streak. Victim No. 24 was Nicholls State (5-16) by a score of 7-0 and No. 25 was UTEP (11-16) by a 6-3 margin. For Patty Gasso's squad its was the fourth consecutive tournament championship. The Sooners break out of a tie with the 2001 team that had set the previous record at 23.

“The streak is nice but the only thing we are focusing on is playing good softball and improving,” said Gasso. “We did some good things this weekend, especially considering we were shorthanded and some players were playing out of position due to injuries. On the other hand our game was not perfect and it will need to be better as we head to the Kia Klassic next week. That will be a major challenge for this team and one we look forward to.”

Box Scores: OU 7, Nicholls State 0 | OU 6, UTEP 3

The catalyst for the streak has been the Sooners' offense, which has hit .398 over the last five weeks. OU has outscored opponents 195-33 during the streak. In addition to their high batting average, OU has added 59 doubles, six triples, 26 home runs and 181 RBI.

The pitching staff hasn't been too shabby during the streak either. They have a combined ERA of 1.03 and have held opponents to a .176 batting average.

OU posted a pair of runs in the first inning of the opener against Nicholls State and with the way senior Kami Keiter has pitched over the last five weeks, the game was essentially out of reach. Keiter tossed her seventh shutout of the season to improve to 13-1 on the season. The Colorado native held the Lady Colonels to two hits while extending her streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to 74.2.

The leadoff duo of Norrelle Dickson and Kristin Vesely were responsible for both first inning runs and would combine to score five of OU's seven total runs. The first inning scores were driven home by seniors Jessica Leslie and Heather Scaglione.

The first frame was the beginning of a big day for Scaglione, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI against Nicholls State. She added another RBI in the night cap against UTEP.

The offensive player of the game against UTEP was Leslie, who continued her torrid week. Leslie went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI. In six contests this week Leslie, who was filling in the No. 3 spot in the lineup due to Christina Enea's injury, hit .500 with eight runs scored, 11 hits, five doubles, one home run and 14 RBI.

Freshman Jadyn Smith started against the Miners and threw 5.1 innings for the first win of her OU career. The righty hurler gave up eight hits and three unearned runs, while also collecting four strikeouts. She was relieved by Keiter, who struck out four of the five batters she faced.

Vesely had her OU record 23 game hitting streak snapped in the against UTEP. Coming into the contest she had recorded a hit in nine consecutive at bats

The Sooners leave Monday morning for a week long, spring break trip to California. OU will play Indiana (6-17) at Long Beach City College at 1 p.m., Tuesday.

On Thursday, OU will begin play in the Kia Klassic with an 11 a.m. Central, game against No. 7 Louisiana Lafayette. The Ragin' Cajuns will get their shot at revenge against the Sooners, who knocked them off in the 2004 Region I Championship to advance to the Women's College World Series. OU will also play Syracuse and Arizona during pool play in the Klassic, which features 10 ranked teams in its 16 team field. Championship play at the Kia Klassic begins on Saturday.

Game Notes: The last time OU lost was on Feb. 11 to No. 13 Alabama by a 2-0 margin ... All time, OU has 17 streaks of 10 or more games, 13 of those have come under Gasso ... OU's winning streak is the longest in Division I softball .... Michigan, who is also playing in the Kia Klassic, has the second longest streak at 21 games ... Arizona, who will also be at the Kia, has the third longest streak at 17.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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