Softball Bounces A&M, Awaits Texas

OKLAHOMA CITY A four-run first inning guided the second seeded and 10th ranked Oklahoma softball team (47-14) to an easy win for the second consecutive outing in the Big 12 Tournament. On this day the victim was Big 12 Regular Season Champion Texas A&M (44-8), who the Sooners eliminated from the tournament with a 6-2 triumph.

“Anytime that we can get our bats going early, it provides a tremendous confidence boost for our pitching staff, “ said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “They are able to relax with runs on the board and an early lead.”

OU's first inning scoring binge began with a wild pitch that plated USA Softball Player of the Year semifinalist Kristin Vesely. Two batters later Jamie Fox produced an RBI single, that was followed by another RBI single from Kami Keiter. An A&M error allowed the fourth run to score.

Box Score | Big 12 Tournament Central

Oklahoma's second USA Softball Player of the Year semifinalist, Heather Scaglione, put the Sooners up by a five spot with a second inning RBI single. The run scoring base knock improves her season RBI total to 58.

Christina Enea put the lead at six runs with a fourth inning RBI single.

The Sooners were able to hang six runs on Texas A&M without the benefit of an extra base hit. It helped that A&M starter Megan Gibson (10-5) walked three batters and plunked another three.

Keiter, who set the OU career record with her 169th pitching appearance, continued to dominate the Big 12 Tourney field. The Sooner ace has only allowed one earned run on 11 hits in 19.1 innings of tourney work.

On Thursday she held the NCAA's top hitting team to four hits and no runs, in large part because she was able to strand nine Aggie base runners. She gave up three walks and struck out the same number in route to improving her season ledger to 29-6. The win also leaves her just two shy of 100 for her career.

“It is very fitting for her because she has been such a workhorse for us,” replied Gasso when asked about Keiter's appearance record. “That will be a tough record to break because we are hoping for a little more depth in the future. It is a very fitting and well deserved honor for Kami.”

By eliminating the top-seeded Aggies, the Sooners get a crack at third seeded and seventh-ranked Texas at 5 p.m. tonight. The Longhorns have defeated Kansas (1-0) and Nebraska (3-0) and stand as one of two (Baylor) remaining undefeated teams in the field.

It is win or go home for the Sooners through the remainder of the tournament. For OU to advance to the 3:30 Sunday Championship Game, they will have to defeat the Longhorns twice. If the Sooners are able to defeat Texas tonight, the two squads will meet again Saturday morning at 11.

OU and Texas split the regular season series in Austin. The Sooners were able to plate two early runs on all-world pitcher Cat Osterman before surrendering the lead and the game by a score of 4-2. OU rebounded in the finale with a 4-0 win that pitched by Kami Keiter (three hit shutout) and charged offensively by Heather Scaglione (two run homer).

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