Softball Capitalizes on Mizzou Miscues

COLUMBIA, Mo. A six-run sixth inning turned a tight contest into an easy win for the No. 8 Oklahoma softball team (35-6, 3-0) over No. 15 Missouri, 8-3, on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, Mo.

“In the Big 12 a win is win, pretty or ugly,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “This certainly was not pretty today, but I think we had a lot to do with that. We put pressure on their tremendous staff and were very aggressive when we got on base. Both teams had several key opportunities and we were able to make the most of them today.”

OU chased Mizzou starter Erin Kalka (1-2) after a pair of leadoff singles in the sixth inning. Reliever Erica Peterson faced two batters and was done after Tayl'r Hollis gave OU a 3-2 lead on an RBI single. The third pitcher of the inning, Jen Brock, entered with the bases full and no outs. This is when things got ugly.

Box Score

OU leadoff hitter Kristin Vesely grounded back to Brock, who overthrew her catcher in an attempt to get the force out at home. Two OU runners scored before the Missouri catcher attempted to throw to Brock, who wasn't covering the plate. When the dust settled OU had scored three unearned runs and Vesely stood at third. OU would add another two runs and went into the bottom half of the sixth with a commanding 8-2 lead.

Six of the Sooners' runs were unearned and only three came on RBI. The RBI were turned in by Jessica Leslie (42), Jamie Fox (31) and Tayl'r Hollis (16). OU was able to win without recording a single extra base hit in the contest.

Missouri finished the contest with four errors and two run-scoring wild pitches.

Senior Kami Keiter was the benefactor of the generous Missouri squad. She improved to 18-3 while tossing her 12th complete game of the season. The Colorado native did not have her best stuff but was able to limit the potent MU lineup to three runs on seven hits, while also collecting four strikeouts.

“Kami had an average outing and she would tell you that,” commented Gasso. “Still, besides the late home run, they were not hitting the ball hard. That was positive sign.”

Missouri native Jessica Leslie began the scoring in the first inning. She reached on a two-out single and moved into scoring position on Mizzou error. No. 5 hitter Jamie Fox went with an 0-2 pitch that snuck through the right side and sent Leslie towards home. The throw from right field beat Leslie to the plate, but the Sooner senior successfully slid around the tag and swiped home with her trailing hand.

Missouri took the lead in the third inning with two runs that were produced by the meat of their lineup. Cleanup hitter Amanda Renth's single tied the game and Jessica Roening's sacrifice fly gave the Tigers the short lived lead.

OU tied the game in its next at bat. Senior Christina Enea led off by crushing a single up the middle. The missile short hopped the center fielder and carried all the way to the fence. Enea wound up on third base but wouldn't score the tying run. That was accomplished by pinch runner Jade Prather, who snuck home on the first wild pitch of the game.

MU's final run came on a solo home run by Leanne Bowers in the top of the seventh inning.

OU and Mizzou will close the second weekend of Big 12 action on Sunday at Noon.

Game Notes: It marks the fifth time that OU has started 3-0 in Big 12 play ... The best start to Big 12 play in OU history is 9-0, which was accomplished in 2001 and 2002 ... OU is now 23-0 when they score in the first inning ... Sophomore Kristin Vesely snapped an 0-for-5 skid with a single in seventh inning when she singled ... She did not have a hit in six consecutive at bats (including a walk), which is her longest hitless drought since the second weekend of the season ... OU leads the all-time series with Missouri 36-30 and has won 12 of the last 14 ... Leslie, who grew up in nearby Raytown, Mo., went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run in her final collegiate trip to her home state.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Softball Capitalizes on Mizzou Miscues

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