No. 5 Softball Fails to Sweep No. 7 A&M

NORMAN, Okla. Several miscues and a dominant pitching effort by Texas A&M (39-4, 10-2) starter Amanda Scarborough led to a 4-1 loss for No. 5/6 Oklahoma softball team (41-8, 9-2) against the No. 7/5 Aggies on Sunday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex. The series split dropped OU one-half game behind A&M in the race for the Big 12 regular season championship.

The loss snapped OU's home winning streak of 31 games, which dated back to March 13, 2004 against McNeese State.

“I don't want to discredit A&M because they were very aggressive, but I feel like we gave this game away today,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “Stacy Braddock threw tremendously but our defense was not good and we didn't cash in on opportunities at the plate.”

Box Score: Texas A&M 4, Oklahoma 1

After the slugfest on Saturday, the top two teams in the Big 12 played small ball on Sunday.

OU scored first with an uearned run off freshman starter Amanda Scarborough. Jamie Fox led off the inning with a walk and would reach third when Tayl'r Hollis was plunked and Kristin Vesely was walked. With the bases loaded Norrelle Dickson hit a hard grounder that was booted as shortstop Rocky Spencer attempted to back hand it. Fox trotted home on the error.

A&M responded with a run in its next at bat. A one-out single by Jana James plated Joy Davis from third base. OU starter Stacy Braddock beared down and forced Aggie freshman phenom Megan Gibson to pop out. Jamie Fox saved another run by making a diving snag of a flare by Scarborough that carried into foul territory.

In the sixth inning an error by Savannah Long and pair of wild pitches by Braddock put pinch runner Jami Lobpries at third base win no outs. The unearned run scored on a RBI single by the next batter, Lindsay Park.

A&M opened up a three-run lead in the seventh inning on another RBI single by James and a botched rundown between first and second base.

The Aggies pressured the Sooner defense all day and were able to steal five base on the Sooners. OU shortstop Savannah Long failed to cover the bag in time on three of the occasions (one double steal), which wasted accurate throws from senior Heather Scaglione. The other stolen base came during failed rundown.

A&M freshman hurler Amanda Scarborough improved to 23-1 on the season by holding the OU offense to two hits, despite the fact she was only able to strikeout one Sooner batter. OU had more base on balls (4) off the rookie than it had hits.

OU starter Stacy Braddock (7-3) made her third career Big 12 start and was charged with four runs (three earned) on eight hits in the losing effort. She struck out six batters and issued one walk.

The Sooners have no time to relax with No. 8/11 Baylor coming to Norman for a Monday doubleheader at 5 p.m. Monday is $.50 hot dog and Coke night at the OU Softball Complex. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Game Notes: Jessica Leslie's team-leading hitting streak of nine games was broken after the senior went 0-for-4 ... Vesely's eight-game hitting streak was also broken with a 0-for-3 hitting performance in the loss ... Dickson stole her 45th career base to tie former Sooners Kelli Braitsch at No. 5 on the OU all-time list ... OU leads the all-time series with A&M, 31-22.

No. 5 Softball Fails to Sweep No. 7 A&M

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No. 5 Softball Fails to Sweep No. 7 A&M

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