Softball Knocks Off No. 6 Oregon St

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. Scoring all four runs in the top of the seventh, the No. 9 Oklahoma softball team knocked off No. 6 Oregon State, 4-1, Saturday afternoon and pushed its perfect record to 15-0. It marked the second straight top-25 win of the day as the Sooners run ruled No. 16 Cal in the first game of the double header before sending Oregon State (7-4) home with a loss as well.

“I have said it all year, but this team has something very special about them because they have the ability to come back and keep themselves in games,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “They have this never-quit-attitude that you can't teach.”

Sophomore D. J. Mathis had a gusty performance as she held the sixth-ranked Beavers to only one run and five hits while striking out three. The lefty pitched her first seven-inning game of the season and pushed her perfect record to 3-0.

“The biggest thing we walked away with from this game was the fact that D.J. is back,” Gasso said. “She was a huge spark for us in the circle today and she deserved the win so the fact that we were able to come back and get it for her was huge for her and for our team.”

Boxscore | 2007 Schedule

Oregon State led the entire game after hitting a controversial home run in the bottom of the third to take the 1-0 lead. The home run saw a dramatic turn of events as center fielder Amber Spaulding made a diving catch knocking over the center field fence and catching the ball. The play was initially ruled an out, but was overruled and changed to a home run as Oregon State took the 1-0 lead.

Oklahoma entered the top of the seventh with its last at bat and needing to score at least one run.

Lindsey Vandever led off the final frame with a walk. Following the walk, OSU starter Brianne McGowan was pulled from the circle after shutting out the Sooners the first six innings. Ta'Tyana McElroy replaced McGowan and the Sooner offense took off.

Traci Dickenson's fielder's choice placed runners at the corners with no outs and the top of the Oklahoma lineup coming to bat. Norrelle Dickson's RBI single through the left side of the field scored Vandever and Oklahoma tied it up 1-1. Dickson also advanced to second on the throw as OU now had two runners in scoring position.

Ironically, it was Spaulding who stepped to the plate and delivered the game-winning hit with her two RBI triple to right center field as Oklahoma took the 3-1 lead. The Sooners added an insurance run on a Mariee Mena RBI ground out and OU held the 4-1 leading heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Mathis held the Beavers in the bottom of the frame as she only walked one batter and retired the other three.

Additionally, Dickson tied the career stolen bases mark with her stolen base in the top of the third. The senior is now tied with former Sooner Christy Ring (1999-2002) with 86 steals in her career.

Oklahoma will look to extend its perfect record on Sunday morning as it plays its final game in the Palm Springs Classic. The Sooners will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at 11 a.m.

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