Walk-Off Homer Leads to Run Rule

NORMAN, Okla. The No. 6 Oklahoma softball team added another win over Arkansas Wednesday night as Traci Dickenson pounded a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to lead OU to a 10-2 run-rule victory in the second game of the doubleheader. D.J. Mathis pitched the no-hitter in the first game of the twin bill that Oklahoma won, 14-0, in a run rule.

“I really wasn't thinking about the no-hitter while I was out there,” Mathis said. “It's exciting to throw a no-hitter, but the best part about the night was that our team won.”

The Sooners, who are leading the nation in runs scored, recorded their ninth run rule of the season and improved to a perfect 18-0 on the year. The Lady'Backs fell to 5-12 after two straight losses to the Sooners on Wednesday.

“D. J. Mathis is on a roll right now and is taking absolute command at the mound,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “She's getting ahead in the counts and taking care of business out there. I'm happy to get the wins tonight, but there are still areas we can improve on. I thought our defense wasn't as strong as it has been but we'll work on that as we have more games ahead this week.”

OU 10, Arkansas 2 | OU 14, Arkansas 0

First baseman Samantha Ricketts continued to lead the Sooners in game two as the sophomore clean-up hitter went 2-for-2 with a double from the plate and also recorded two RBI. Ricketts was impressive against the Lady'Backs in two games as she finished the day with seven RBI on a 4-for-7 performance.

Lauren Eckermann got the win in the second game as she improved to 10-0 on the year. The junior-transfer surrendered four hits and struck out six in the five-inning contest. Eckermann gave up no earned runs as the OU defense committed a season-high three errors. Coming into tonight's twin bill, Oklahoma led the conference in fielding percentage.

The Sooners got on the board first as Amber Flores got on base with her two-out triple to left center field. Ricketts followed that with an RBI double to score Flores and give OU the 1-0 lead.

Arkansas responded in the top of the second as Oklahoma City native Whitney Cloer pounded a two-out double to center field. OU shortstop Savannah Long mishandled a fly ball and Cloer scored on the error to even it up at 1-1.

Oklahoma came right back in the second as Susan Ogden doubled to right center and the Sooners had two runners in scoring position after Stacia Aleman reached on a fielder's choice. A sacrifice fly by Dickenson scored Aleman and Norrelle Dickson's bloop RBI single just past the infield scored Ogden and OU took the 3-1 lead after two.

Amber Spaulding reached second to lead off the inning after two consecutive errors by the shortstop and center fielder. Amber Flores advanced Spaulding to third with her single to right field. Ricketts came through again with runners at the corners as she pounded an RBI single to right field as OU led 4-1 after the third.

The Lady'Backs got on the board again in the top of the fourth as Jessica Bachkora reached on a single to right field. The six-hole hitter stole second and advanced to third after an error by OU catcher Susan Ogden. Cloer's RBI single added the second run of the game for Arkansas.

The Sooners scored additional runs in the bottom of the fourth as Dickenson reached first on a walk and scored on a throwing error by the Arkansas shortstop trying to throw Dickenson out at second on Norrelle Dickson's sacrifice fielder's choice. Dickson advanced all the way to third on the error and crossed home plate after a passed ball by the catcher as OU extended it, 6-2.

OU strung together three straight singles in the fifth as Jessica Legendre led off with a single to center field and Aleman roped a single to left field. Next, Ogden pounded an RBI single to center field as OU took the 8-2 lead. Dickenson followed that with her three-run homer, her fourth one of the season, that ended the game in a run rule.

The Sooners will be back in action on Thursday as they host North Texas in a 4 p.m. contest at the OU Softball Complex. The Sooners' seven-game home stand will continue this weekend as they host the OU Residence Inn Invitational this Saturday and Sunday. OU will play Wichita State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and follow that with a 4:45 contest against Temple. In Sunday's action, the Sooners will match up against Temple at 12:15 p.m. and finish out the tournament against Wichita State at 2:30 p.m.

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