Late OU Rally Edges Minnesota, 6-5

NORMAN, Okla. Oklahoma needed a four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to take its first lead of the game, but the No. 12 Sooners held off the Minnesota Gophers, 6-5, to remain perfect (8-0) on the season. Heading into Sunday's action the Sooners own a 3-0 record in the OU/Nike Classic this weekend.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth the Sooners found themselves trailing, 5-2. Samantha Ricketts walked with one out and the Sooner offense took off from there. Next, Susan Ogden, pinch hitting for Mena, pounded a single to right field as Prather, pinch running for Ricketts, advanced to third. With runners at the corners, Stacia Aleman came through with an RBI double that hit the center field wall and the Sooner offensive rally was on.

Box Score

Stepping up to the plate with runners in scoring position, senior Jamie Fox tied the game as she pounded a two RBI double to center field and the Sooners had evened it up at five all. However, OU wasn't done as Lindsey Vandever reached second after a Minnesota error that also allowed Fox to score and the Sooners took their first lead of the game at 6-5.

“This team is special because of the heart they have,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I appreciated their will tonight and it's exciting to know that we have a team that can come from behind like they have done twice this year.”

The extra run would be enough as Jadyn Smith held off the Gophers in the top of the seventh and retired all three batters. The junior earned her first win of the year after coming in for relief of starter Lauren Eckermann. Smith pitched the final 3.2 innings and allowed no hits and no runs to earn the win.

“Jadyn was our MVP tonight,” Gasso said. “Her job was to come in and spark the defense and that is exactly what she did. It is great to have a pitcher that can come in and pick up where another left off.”

Eckermann gave up four earned runs on five hits in the first 3.1 innings of work.

The Golden Gophers were the first to get on the board as clean up hitter Lisa Parks opened the second inning with a leadoff solo home run over the left center field wall and Minnesota took the opening 1-0 lead.

Freshman Lindsey Vandever evened it up in the bottom of the third with her solo home run over right center field. It marked the rookie catcher's first collegiate home run.

However, Minnesota wouldn't go away as they recorded a three-run, four-hitting inning in the top of the fourth. Conway led off the inning with a single and advanced to second after an error by shortstop Savannah Long. Next, Katie Meyer singled to shortstop and was picked off on the ensuing play, but Conway advanced to third. After Parks was intentionally walked, Casey Wheeler pounded a three-run homer over the left center field wall as the Panthers took the 4-1 lead.

UM added an additional run in the top of the fifth after an OU error scored another Minnesota run as it held the 5-1 advantage.

The Sooners began to gain momentum in the bottom of the fifth as Fox led off the inning with a single to shortstop. Vandever reached on a fielder's choice as Iver McDonald was inserted into the lineup to pinch run for Vandever. McDonald reached third on a wild pitch and was brought across the plate after Dickson's RBI double to left center and the Sooners cut the lead to 5-2 heading into the sixth inning where the offense rallied.

Oklahoma will return to tournament action on Sunday with a doubleheader at the OU Softball Complex. The Sooners will take on Birmingham Southern at 12:15 p.m. and follow that with a match up against Northwestern State at 2:30 p.m.

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