OU Splits Series with No. 2 A&M

NORMAN, Okla. Despite a big four-run rally in the fifth inning, it wasn't enough as the No. 3 Oklahoma softball team (38-4, 4-2) fell to No. 2 Texas A&M (29-5, 3-2) on Sunday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex. The two squads split the series as the Sooners used a come-from-behind win on Saturday to down A&M, 4-2.

“From the start of the game I just didn't see a spark in our team and we need to have that every game in the Big 12 in order to win,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “We had too many breakdowns tonight on defense and we need to have a much better performance in the circle. We didn't come out attacking and that is something that must change. We can't afford to do that if we want to accomplish our goal of winning championships.”

TAMU 9, OU 4 | OU 4, TAMU 2

The Sooners got down early as Texas A&M put four runs on the board in the top of the first and added another in the top of the fourth to take the 5-0 advantage. However, as the Sooners have done all year they made it a game in the bottom of the fifth as OU scored four runs and only trailed by one. As quickly as the momentum shifted to the Sooners, it went right back to Texas A&M as it added another run in the sixth and sealed it with three more in the top of the seventh.

Sophomore lefty D.J. Mathis fell to 10-3 on the season after going the first three innings and giving up four earned runs on five hits while striking out four. Three of Mathis' four runs given up came in the first as TAMU's Megan Gibson pounded a three-run homer to give the Aggies the lead they would never lose.

The Sooners closely matched TAMU in hits as OU ripped nine to the Aggies' 10. Oklahoma had plenty of opportunities but couldn't capitalize as it stranded eight runners on base. Traci Dickenson highlighted the offense with her 2-for-3 outing that included her ninth home run of the year while Norrelle Dickson, Susan Ogden and Jamie Fox also added multiple hit outings.

“We were too routine offensively,” Gasso said. “We are not a routine offense so we must have much more clutch hitting. I give credit to Texas A&M as they made more clutch hits than we did.”

Following Gibson's homer in the first, TAMU recorded its fourth run of the inning after Joy Davis tripled, but a throwing error by Savannah Long advanced Davis home as TAMU took the 4-0 lead. The Aggies struck again in the top of the fourth as two straight bunt singles to lead off the inning placed runners at first and second with no outs. Following that, junior Lauren Eckermann came in for relief of Mathis.

However, TAMU kept plugging away as a walk loaded the bases and a fielder's choice on the following play scored TAMU's fifth run before Eckermann was able to get out of the inning.

The Sooners held the Aggies in the top of the fifth as the defense made three straight impressive plays to head to the bottom of the fifth. Dickenson led off with a solo home run to left center field and Dickson followed that with a single to shortstop. Mariee Mena's fielder's choice placed runners at first and second after a throwing error by the second baseman to second. Samantha Ricketts followed that with a one-out RBI ground out to close the gap, 5-2.

With two outs, Susan Ogden ripped an RBI single to left center field and Fox followed that with another RBI single as the Sooners closed it to within one before the inning ended.

However, TAMU bounced back as Jamie Lobpries' RBI double to left field pushed the TAMU lead to 6-4. The Aggies spotted another three runs in the top of the seventh to kill any OU rally. Eckermann retired the first two batters of the frame, but costly errors hurt the Sooners. Macie Morrow doubled, but another throwing error by Long sent Morrow to third. Following a Gibson walk, the Aggies had runners at first and third with two outs.

Pitcher Amanda Scarborough tripled to right center to score two runs as TAMU led 8-4. However, another Sooner error, a dropped pop up to Ricketts at first base, scored Scarborough as TAMU took its final lead, 9-4.

The Sooners will continue their home stand this Wednesday as they host part one of the Bedlam Series at the OU Softball Complex. First pitch between the Sooners and Cowgirls is set for 7 p.m. It will also mark OU's second TV game of the week as the contest will be shown on KAUT-OK 43 in OKC and Cox 78 in Tulsa.

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