OU Falls to No. 10 Texas in Extras

AUSTIN The No. 3 Oklahoma softball team (36-3) suffered its first Big 12 loss of the season as the Sooners fell to No. 10 Texas in 10 innings, 5-4, at McCombs Field in Austin, Texas. An error by OU third baseman Norrelle Dickson scored the final run in the bottom of the 10th as OU dropped its third game of the season.

Despite the error, Dickson was impressive at the plate as the senior became the all-time hits leader at Oklahoma, passing the previous mark (293) held by former Sooner Kristin Vesely. Dickson now owns the mark with 297 career hits.

Tied heading into the bottom of the 10th, the international tie-breaker rule began with a runner at second. Texas used a bunt to move the runner to third, but the throw by Dickson went over first baseman Samantha Ricketts' head and UT scored its fifth run of the game to win the game.

Texas 5, OU 4 (10 Innings)

The Sooner offense produced 11 hits off of UT starter Meagan Denny, but also recorded a season-high 14 strikeouts. In addition to Dickson, Ricketts also had a strong day at the plate with two hits and an RBI.

Eckermann pitched her longest game at OU. The junior pitcher also gave up 11 hits with four earned runs and four strikeouts in nine innings. Eckermann took her first loss of the season and fell to 21-1 on the year.

“We had a lot of missed opportunities today, that is it in a nut shell,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I thought Laruen did a good job of keeping us in the game. We had plenty of opportunities to win. You better take advantage of those opportunities in Big 12 play or you'll struggle like we did today.”

Dickson made history with her lead off single in the top of the first to start off the game. It marked the 206th hit of her career, tying the OU career hit record held by Vesely.

The Sooner offense took off from there as Dickson stole second on the following play and the Sooners had a runner in scoring position. One out later, Amber Flores was hit by a pitch. Clean-up hitter Ricketts ripped an RBI single up the middle to score Dickson as Flores advanced to third on the play. Designated player Susan Ogden followed that with an RBI single to right field that scored Flores. Jamie Fox continued the string of singles as she loaded the bases with a single to left field. The Sooners scored their final run of the inning with Lindsey Vandever's RBI walk. Heading into the bottom of the first OU led 3-0.

Dickson made history again as she led off the second with a single over the third baseman's head to become the all-time career hit leader at the University of Oklahoma, passing Vesely's mark. Despite the hit, the Sooners couldn't capitalize as Dickson was thrown out stealing and Denny retired the next two batters.

Texas had a huge third inning to get back in the game and take the lead as Shannon Thomas recorded a one-out single to start the Longhorn momentum. Loryn Johnson followed with a double down the left field line while Thomas advanced to third on the play and scored on a fielding error by OU left fielder Flores. One out later, Megan Willis laid down a bunt single to place runners at the corners. Next, one swing of the bat changed the pace of the game as Kacie Gaskin pounded her ninth home run of the year. The three-run homer with two outs on a full count gave Texas the 4-3 advantage heading into the fourth inning.

Oklahoma answered back in the top of the fourth as Traci Dickenson beat out the throw on her infield single to third base with one out. It was Dickson again as she pounded an RBI triple to right center field to tie it up at 4-4.

The Sooners had an opportunity in the fifth to tie it up, but couldn't take advantage. Flores reached first to lead off the inning after being hit by a pitch. Ricketts followed with her second hit of the day, a single to right center that advanced Flores to third. The Sooners had runners a the corners, but Denny retired the next three Sooners, including two strikeouts to end the inning.

Dickson recorded her fourth hit of the day with a two-out single to the pitcher in the top of the sixth, but an OU ground out ended the inning with runner on base.

Texas threatened again in the top of the sixth as Willis led off the frame with a single, but was retired at second on the following play after a fielder's choice. Another UT single placed runners at first and second with one out, but Eckermann retired the next two Longhorns as OU escaped out of the inning.

Both teams went three up, three down in the seventh as the game went to extra innings.

The Horns threatened in the bottom of the ninth as two straight singles placed runners at first and second with no outs, but Eckermann turned a double play to end the frame.

Heading to the top of the 10th, the international tie-breaker rule placed Flores at second. Following a Ricketts walk and a Vandever single, the Sooners had the bases loaded with two outs. An OU strikeout ended the inning.

Next, the Sooners will take a break from Big 12 play this Wednesday as they host Central Arkansas at the OU Softball Complex at 6 p.m.

OU will resume conference action next Saturday and Sunday (March 31-April 1) as it welcomes No. 4 Texas A&M to Norman. OU and TAMU will meet at 2 p.m. on Saturday with the game being televised on ESPN2. Saturday's game will also be a white out with all fans in attendance receiving a free white t-shirt to wear. The weekend series will conclude on Sunday at 12 p.m.

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