No. 4 Softball Sweeps with 5-1 Win

NORMAN, Okla. Using a four-run third inning, the No. 4 Oklahoma softball team earned the sweep of Nebraska with a 5-1 win Sunday in front of 821 fans at the OU Softball Complex.

It marked OU's first regular season sweep of Nebraska since 1996 when it swept NU in a three-game series in Norman in the first year of Big 12 play. The Sooners defeated the Huskers on Saturday in an offensive battle that ended with Savannah Long's two-run walk-off homer that gave the Sooners the 10-9 win.

The Sooners improved to 27-1 at Marita Hynes Field while extending their overall record to 47-5 and 12-3 in Big 12 play. The Huskers fell to 34-15 on the year and 7-6 in conference action. Oklahoma still remains one of the top three teams in the Big 12 standings with Baylor (11-2) and Missouri (9-2).

OU 5, Nebraska 1 | OU 10, Nebraska 9

Susan Ogden and Jamie Fox highlighted the Sooner offense as they hit back-to-back two-RBI doubles in the third that gave OU the lead it would never lose. Seven out of nine Sooners in the lineup recorded a hit with Mariee Mena adding the other RBI in the bottom of the sixth to score OU's fifth and final run of the game.

“I couldn't be more pleased with the way this team stepped forward this weekend,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I really liked how we spread the wealth through our lineup and saw contributions from everybody. We need to continue to climb this ladder and get better.”

The Big 12 leader in wins, Lauren Eckermann, added another on Sunday as the junior transfer improved to 29-2 on the year. Eckermann threw her 24th complete game of the year after holding Nebraska to only three hits and one run while striking out seven Huskers.

“I knew without a doubt that Lauren would come back strong today after a tough performance yesterday,” Gasso said. “She was fantastic and really set the tone for us with seven strikeouts. She looked like the great pitcher she is out there today.”

Nebraska didn't waste any time getting on the board as NU's Devin Porter walked with two outs and Crystal Carwile followed that with a two-out RBI double off the center field wall to give the Huskers the 1-0 lead before Eckermann could retire the final batter to end the top of the first.

Eckermann got out of a jam in the top of the second as the Huskers loaded the bases with a single, error and hit by pitch with only one out. However, Eckermann struck out the final two batters to end the frame and NU's scoring threat.

The Sooners swung the momentum their way in the top of third as Traci Dickenson led off with a single, but a throwing error by the NU shortstop advanced Dickenson to second. Oklahoma recorded two fielder's choices and had two outs with runners at first and third as cleanup hitter Ricketts stepped to the plate, but NU decided to intentionally walk Ricketts to load the bases.

Ogden made the most of the opportunity as she roped a two-RBI double to get the Sooners on the board. Fox kept the rally alive as she followed with a two-RBI double of her own to give OU the 4-1 lead before the frame ended. Ogden has now stretched her career-long hitting streak to 10 games.

Oklahoma added a run in the sixth as Long sparked the offense with a one-out single. The Sooners loaded the bases after a Dickenson walk and Norrelle Dickson single. Mena followed and added an insurance run with her RBI single that gave OU its final 5-1 lead.

The Sooners will finish out the Big 12 regular season this week with a road stretch. Oklahoma will play part two of Bedlam this Wednesday night in Stillwater. First pitch between the Cowgirls and Sooners is set for 7 p.m.

OU will close out the conference stretch with a trip to Lawrence, Kan., and a two-game series against the Kansas Jayhawks. OU and KU will meet on Saturday at 2 p.m. and close out the weekend with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.

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