Patient Softball Bedevils No. 21 Arizona State, 6-1

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The No. 8 Oklahoma softball team (30-4) waited patiently against Arizona State (24-5) starter Katie Burkhardt and when the opportunity arrived, it pounced on the Sun Devil to the tune of five runs in the sixth inning of a 6-1 victory on Thursday afternoon at the KIA Klassic. The Sooners extended their school record and the nation's longest winning streak to 28 games, while also improving their Klassic record to 2-0.

Burkhardt was dominating early. She worked a 0-2 count on 11 of the first 15 batters and forced the Sooners into seven infield pop outs.

The rally starting leadoff duo of Norrelle Dickson and Kristin Vesely were able to crack ASU's starter and open the flood gates in the sixth inning. Dickson worked the first walk of the game against Burkhardt. Then Vesely laid down a sacrifice bunt that was slung into right field by ASU first baseman Ashley Werchsky. ASU's starter plunked Christina Enea to load the bases for senior Heather Scaglione.

Box Score

Scaglione lined a two-run single to center field to give the Sooners their first lead at 2-1. It was 4-1 when reigning Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week Jessica Leslie drilled the left-center wall with a two RBI double. The fifth run of the frame was driven in by another senior, Kami Keiter, on a warning track sacrifice fly to center field.

“My assistant coaches made a few adjustments that allowed are hitters to get the barrel on the ball,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “My assistants made a great decision and the players executed to perfection.”

Leslie collected her third RBI of the game in the seventh inning to give OU the 6-1 lead.

“Jessica is producing when we need it,” said Gasso. “She has been opening the door and bringing all the momentum to our team.”

Freshman Jadyn Smith impressed in just her third career start. Smith worked 4.1 innings allowing one unearned run on three hits. While the run was not credited to her, Smith would certainly take the blame. With two outs in the first inning she struck out Sun Devil No. 3 hitter Mindy Cowles but the wild pitch went to the backstop. Cowles would move up to second base on a wild pitch to Valarie Sevilla and then the ASU cleanup hitter knocked her in with a single to center.

“Jadyn was tremendous, she gave us more than we expected,” said Gasso. “She held a top-25 team at bay and got us to Kami in the fifth inning. I wanted at least two innings from Jadyn and she provided much more.”

Senior Kami Keiter relieved Smith with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. She allowed one hit and hit one batter, but did not allow a Sun Devil to score. She earned the relief win and improved to 15-1 on the season. Keiter was also the pitcher of record in OU's 7-3 defeat of Louisiana Lafayette on Thursday morning.

Recap: OU 7, Louisiana Lafayette 3

OU is scheduled to face Syracuse Friday morning at 11 a.m. Central, before entering Championship play on Saturday and Sunday. Rain showers are in the forecast for all three weekend days.

Patient Softball Bedevils No. 21 Arizona State, 6-1

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Patient Softball Bedevils No. 21 Arizona State, 6-1

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