Senior Trio Leads Softball Past Texas

AUSTIN, Texas Kami Keiter shut them down and Heather Scaglione hit it around as the No. 6 Oklahoma softball team (38-7, 6-1) defeated No. 4 Texas (30-6, 5-2) by a 4-0 count to salvage a series split on Sunday afternoon at McCombs Field in Austin. The win leaves the Sooners one win shy of No. 7 Texas A&M (36-3,7-1) in the race for first place in the Big 12.

“In rivalry games you need these type of efforts from your seniors,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “The entire class contirbuted and led a great team efffort. Coming out of here with a split is great achievement and should provide us plenty of momentum for tomorrow games at Texas Tech.”

Box Score

The senior duo of Jessica Leslie and Scaglione powered the Sooner offense. Leslie began the scoring with an assist from Texas center fielder Mickayla Padilla. Leslie laced a single up the middle that got by Padilla and allowed Norrelle Dickson to score from first. The three-base error put Leslie at third base.

She walked home when Scaglione crushed a two-run homer into the parking lot adjacent to the left-center fence. The blast tied Scaglione for the team lead with seven HR. She shares that recognition with Leslie. It also puts Scaglione in a three-way tie with Lisa Carey (1998-01) and Kelli Braitsch (2000-03) for No. 2 on the career home run list with 37. Ashli Barrett (1998-01) leads the list with 46 long balls.

Leslie made her own move up the OU charts in the fourth inning. Her one-out double plated Kristin Vesely, who reached on a single, and gave the Sooners a four-run advantage. Leslie has 19 doubles this season, which is tied for the third best single season total in OU history. She shares that accomplishment with fellow senior Christina Enea, who had 19 two-baggers in 2002.

Kami Keiter rebounded from a tough loss on Saturday (4-2) to improve to 21-4 on the season. She allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out three batters. She had a no-hitter going through 5.1 innings and was able to keep Texas away from home for her ninth shutout of the season.

The Sooners chased UT freshman phenom Megan Denny after 3.1 innings of work. The Sooners handed the hard-throwing righty the first loss of her collegiate career (5-1) and the worst outing, in terms of earned runs (4), of her young career. Denny, who averages 11.9 strikeouts per game, only struck out two batters in addition to allowing six hits, walking three and plunking two batters.

Cat Osterman relieved Denny in the fourth inning. It was Osterman's fifth relief appearance of the season and the first time that she did not garner the relief win. Osterman slowed the Sooner bats allowing just one hit, a Scaglione single, while striking out seven.

The Sooners four game road swing takes them to Texas Tech (22-13, 2-4) for a Monday doubleheader. The Sooner and Lady Raiders are set for a 5 p.m. start. Texas Tech was swept by Missouri this weekend.

The Sooners return to Norman next weekend for a potential first-place battle with Texas A&M. The Sooners and Aggies will meet on Saturday, April 16 at 3 p.m., and close the series on Sunday at Noon. OU will close the four-game home stand with a Monday doubleheader against No. 9 Baylor (35-6, 5-3). First pitch for the twin bill is set for 5 p.m.

Game Notes: OU leads the all-time series with Texas 16-14 and has won three of the last four contests ... Keiter is 3-6 all-time against Texas ... All three of Keiter's wins have come in the last two seasons ... Leslie hit .364 with five RBI and two doubles in three rivalry games this week.

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