Softball Run Rules No. 16 Cal, 11-3

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. The Oklahoma offense continued to take off in Palm Springs as the No. 9 OU softball team run-ruled No. 16 Cal, 11-3, in its game of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Sooners pounded 14 hits, with every Sooner coming to the plate recording at least one hit. Norrelle Dickson, Jamie Fox and Lindsey Vandever led the way with two hits each while Mariee Mena, Fox and Dickenson added two RBI a piece.

The Sooners own a 14-0 record and will meet No. 6 Oregon State at approximately 2:30 p.m. to close out action for the day.

Lauren Eckermann earned the win and improved to 9-0 on the year after surrendering only three runs and six hits.

Oklahoma, the visiting team, opened the game with the first four batters in the lineup reaching base. Dickson led off with a single through the left side of the field. However, Dickson was thrown out trying to steal second during Amber Spaulding's at bat, the first time this season Dickson has been caught stealing. Next, the Sooners loaded the bases with a Spaulding walk, Flores fielder's choice and Ricketts walk. Mariee Mena's ground out scored Spaulding and OU took the initial 1-0 lead.

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The Golden Bears answered in the bottom of the frame as Cal led off with a walk and Racklin's fielder's choice replaced Siegel at first and she was moved over on Schalling's single to center. After a fly ball to right field that advanced the runner to third, Cal had runners at the corners. Sutton's single to left field brought in Racklin and Cal evened it at 1-1.

The Sooners broke it open in the second as they batted around the lineup as OU scored six runs and hammered four hits to take a commanding lead. Savannah Long led off with a single to right center field and moved to third on Lindsey Vandever's ground-rule double that hopped over the right field fence. Traci Dickenson's fielder's choice brought Savannah across the plate as the Sooners took the lead back, 3-2. However, OU continued to pour it on with no outs as Dickson walked and Amber Spaulding's bases-loaded single brought Vandever across the plate as Amber Flores stepped to the plate. The rookie designated player pounded a two RBI double as the Sooners extended the lead. OU added its final run in the second with a Mariee Mena sacrifice fly as OU led 7-1 after the top of the second.

Spaulding carried her offensive momentum on the defensive end as the center fielder opened the second with a tremendous play as she made a diving catch that into the collapsing fence that saved a home run. Eckermann rolled and retired the side as Oklahoma went back to the plate.

For the third straight inning, Oklahoma led off the frame with a hit as Vandever opened the third with a single through the right side of the field and pinch runner Iver McDonald replaced her at first. On the ensuing play, McDonald was called out after leaving early trying to steal second. However, Dickenson hammered a solo home run to left field on the next pitch and Oklahoma took the 8-1 lead after the second baseman's third home run of the season. The Sooners have hit a home run in the last 12 straight games.

Ricketts continued her strong weekend in Palm Springs as she led off the fourth with stand-up double to left center field as Mena followed with a bloop single over the Cal shortstop as Douglas, pinch running for Ricketts, advanced to third and OU had runners at the corners with no outs. Fox's RBI single to left field brought in Douglas and the Sooner lead grew to 9-1.

The offense kept working in the fifth as Spaulding led off with a walk and Stacia Aleman pounded a pinch-hit double to center field as OU had two runners in scoring position and no outs. Susan Ogden, also pinch hitting, knocked an RBI bloop single into left field to score Spaulding. Fox followed with another RBI single and OU owned the 11-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Cal didn't give up as Carly Winger pounded a solo home run over the left field fence to add Cal's second run of the game. After a Cal strikeout, pinch hitter Gina Leomiti pounded another home run, a solo shot over the right field fence to close the gap, 11-3. However, the Sooners held on for the eight-after-five run rule and won their 14th straight game. It marked the sixth run rule for the Sooners this season.

Live stats should be available for OU's game against Oregon State at 2:30 p.m.