Gasso Grabs Win No. 600

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. Head coach Patty Gasso collected her 600th win at OU and the No. 9 Oklahoma softball team stayed perfect after recording a 7-2 win over Ohio State in the Sunday finale of the Palm Springs Classic. The Sooners are off to their best start in Oklahoma history with a 16-0 mark and are one of only three teams in the top-25 with a perfect record. No. 1 Tennessee (15-0) and No.5 Alabama (14-0) are the others remaining.

Mathis recorded her second-straight win and improved to 4-0 after holding the Buckeyes to only two runs on four hits while striking out six in the complete game.

Mariee Mena highlighted the offense with a 2-for-2 outing at the plate, including a home run, while adding three RBI. Mena led the Sooners all weekend in Palm Springs as she recorded a team-best .692 batting average with two home runs in eight RBI in five games.

Boxscore | 2007 Schedule

The Sooners took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Amber Spaulding reached first on an error and was moved to second as Amber Flores reached base via catcher's interference. Clean-up batter Ricketts knocked in OU's first run of the game with her RBI double down the right field line to score Spaulding and OU had two runners in scoring position with one out and Mena up to bat. Mena loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch, but the Sooners couldn't take advantage as the following two batters struck out and OU owned the 1-0 lead after the first frame.

The Buckeyes opened the second and third inning with leadoff doubles, but Mathis settled after each and retired the next three batters she faced in both frames.

Ohio State's Sam Marder evened it up in the top of the fourth. The catcher opened the frame with a towering solo home run past left center field that tied the game, 1-1. OSU continued to threaten as Courtney Pruner reached base on a walk and was moved over to second on a ground out. The Buckeyes had a runner in scoring position with two outs, but rookie catcher Lindsey Vandever caught Pruner trying to steal third to end the inning.

The Sooners responded in the fourth as Mena opened with a single to left field and two batters later, Savannah Long's single to left field placed two runners in scoring position with Mena at third and Long advancing to second on the throw. After another Sooner out, Dickenson pounded two-out two RBI double to left field as OU took back the lead, 3-1. Dickson continued the momentum as she reached first on an infield single and the Sooners had runners at the corners.

Dickson made history on the following play as her stolen base marked the 87th stolen base of her career, breaking the previous OU career record of 86 held by Christy Ring (1999-2002).

Mena opened it up in the fifth as she pounded a two-run homer, her third of the season, and OU led 5-1.

Ohio State didn't let up as Marder pounded her second homer of the game, a solo shot with two outs down the right field line, and OSU closed the gap, 5-2.

Oklahoma answered back in the sixth as Flores loaded the bases with her infield single. Ohio State replaced pitchers and Samantha Ricketts was hit on the first pitch as it brought in a run and OU led 6-2. Mena added the seventh run and her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Spaulding.

The Sooners return home this week and will play 12 of their next 13 at home, beginning with a doubleheader against Arkansas Wednesday at the OU Softball Complex. The first pitch of game one in the twin bill is set for 3 p.m.

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