Softball Ends Home Stand with Win

NORMAN, Okla. The No. 5 Oklahoma softball game ended the OU/Worth Tournament with a 10-2 run-rule victory (six innings) over UMKC Saturday night. The Sooners ended their five-game home stand and improved to 28-1 while UMKC fell to 1-15.

Oklahoma now owns 13 run rules on the season after beating Centenary, 11-1, in six innings in the first game of the doubleheader.

“We were pleased to get wins this weekend, but I thought we could have performed better in specific areas, specifically defense,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I think the best thing about this is that we get to rest for a couple of days before we head out to California next week. I think that's the best medicine for this group right now.”

OU 10, UMKC 2 | OU 11, Centenary 1

Junior Lauren Eckermann improved to a Big-12 best 15-0 after relieving OU starter Jadyn Smith and pitching the final four innings against UMKC while only allowing one hit and tying her season high with eight strikeouts.

Offensively, catcher Susan Ogden continues to pace the offense. The junior was 3-for-4 against the Kangaroos with two RBI and finished the weekend with a .750 batting average with four RBI.

Senior Jamie Fox also added her fifth home run of the year in the fifth inning as she finished the game with two RBI. Norrelle Dickson also notched her third home run of her career and her first that wasn't an inside-the-parker.

UMKC didn't waste any time getting on the board as the Kangaroos' Kylie Williamson pounded a one-out single to center field and was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt. Jackie Schuyler recorded an RBI single to score Williamson as UMKC took the early 1-0 lead. Oklahoma ended the inning as Susan Ogden picked off Shuyler at second.

Savannah Long evened it up in the bottom of the second as she pounded a triple down the right field line, her first of the season. The three-bagger brought Mariee Mena across the plate to tie it up at 1-1. Mena reached first on an error to lead off the inning.

Dickson followed that with a two-run homer over the right field fence as OU took the 3-1 lead.

The Kangaroos didn't go away as Sierra Hayward led off the third with a bunt single and moved to second on a passed ball. Ashley Toft answered with a double down the left field line and Williamson followed that with an RBI single to left to close the gap to 3-2.

With runners at the corners, OU starter Smith was relieved by Eckermann. Smith threw the first two innings and gave up six hits and two earned runs. Eckermann retired three out of the four next batters as the Sooners led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the third.

The Sooners scored again in the fifth due to costly errors by UMKC. Amber Spaulding reached first after the pitcher botched the ball. Following Spaulding's stolen base, Amber Flores reached first on a throwing error by the third baseman and Spaulding scored. Ricketts followed that with a fielder's choice that placed runners at the corners.

Next, Ogden laid down a bunt single that scored a run. Mena followed that with a single and another UMKC error advanced Mena to second and scored Ogden and Ricketts. Two outs later, Fox followed that with her homer over the center field and OU led 9-2 after five.

Spaulding led off the sixth with a single to center field and two batters later Ricketts singled as OU had runners at first and second. Ogden's RBI single pushed OU's lead to 10-2, which ended the contest on a run rule.

The Sooners will round their non-conference season next week as they head to Fullerton, Calif., for the Judi Garman Classic. OU will open the tournament on Thursday with a 3:30 p.m. (CST) contest against Pacific and a 10:30 meeting against perennial powerhouse No. 2 Arizona. The Sooners will finish out pool play on Friday with an 8:15 match up against North Carolina State before entering tournament play on Saturday and Sunday.

Below is a complete recap of game one of the doubleheader

GAME ONE: OU 11, CENTENARY 1 (6 Innings)
Led by three home runs, including a grand slam by Samantha Ricketts, the No. 5 Oklahoma softball team recorded its 12th run rule of the year as it handed a Centenary an 11-1 loss in six innings on Saturday at the OU Softball Complex

Ricketts highlighted the offense with her 3-for-4 outing at the plate that included a grand slam. The sophomore first baseman finished with four RBI and also added a double. Additionally, Amber Flores and Savannah Long added a home run a piece. Flores finished with three RBI while Long added two.

OU sophomore hurler Morgan Hudsonpillar improved to 5-0 on the year after surrendering only two hits in six complete innings while striking out four and not allowing an earned run or a walk.

Flores gave the Sooners the 3-0 lead in the top of the first with her three-run homer that hit off the left field foul pole. It marked the freshman's fourth homer of the year. Clean-up hitter Ricketts followed with a double to center field and scored on Susan Ogden's RBI single as OU pushed its lead to 4-0.

OU, the Big 12 leader in home runs, added another in the top of the third as Savannah Long pounded her second home run of the year, a two run shot over the left field fence that scored Mariee Mena, who reached on a single.

Centenary put its first run on the board after two costly errors by the Sooner defense. Lindsey Virdell led off the fifth and reached first after an error by third baseman Norrelle Dickson. On the ensuing play, CC's Lauren Flowers laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Hudsonpillar's throwing error to first allowed runners at first and third with no outs. Dana Davis followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Virdell and close the gap to 6-1. However, Hudsonpillar retired the final two batters of the frame as the Sooners escaped with Centenary only posting one run on the board.

Ricketts came through again in the top of the sixth as she pounded her second grand slam of the season over the right center field wall. It marked the sophomore's eighth home run of the year, a team best. The grand slam also marked the fifth of the year for the Oklahoma squad. Jessica Legendre added a pinch-hit RBI double down the right field line as OU extended its final lead to 11-1

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