OU Bounces Back, Blasts KU 13-4

LAWRENCE, Kan. The No. 3 Oklahoma softball team bounced back from Saturday's loss and routed the Kansas Jayhawks, 13-4 in six innings, Sunday afternoon in its final Big 12 series of the season at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence. In addition to the four home runs hit by the Sooners, Norrelle Dickson highlighted the day by breaking the Big 12 and OU single season record in runs scored with 68 scored so far this season. Samantha Ricketts also tied the Big 12 single season record for RBI in a season (77).

“We were disappointed in our performance yesterday,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “KU's pitcher, Kassie Humphreys, did a good job of hitting her spots yesterday but I was excited how we bounced back and attacked today.

Winning today still keeps our hopes alive for a Big 12 Championship. We have finished our Big 12 schedule and now we have to rely on other teams to give us an opportunity. Regardless, I'm very proud of the way our team responded today.”

OU 13, Kansas 4

Oklahoma's offense responded from Saturday's two-hit performance by recording 14 hits and scoring its most runs in a Big 12 game this season. Jamie Fox highlighted the offense with three RBI on two doubles and a home run. Amber Flores also recorded a perfect 3-for-3 outing from the plate while Dickson, Lindsey Vandever and Ricketts also added home runs.

Starter Lauren Eckermann pushed her record to 31-3 after scattering five hits and giving up two runs while striking out seven Jayhawks.

The Sooner offense came out on fire as Dickson led off with a walk and stole second. With one out, Flores hit a bloop single over shortstop that placed runners at first and third. Next, clean-up hitter recorded her 76th RBI of the season with a single to the left side of the field that scored Dickson.

Dickson's run scored marked her 66th of the season which tied her own Big 12 record that she set in 2006.

Oklahoma added an additional run as Flores stole third, but a throwing error by the KU catcher advanced Flores home as OU took the 2-0 lead. The top of the first ended on a double play as Susan Ogden flew out to center and Ricketts tagged up and advanced to third. However, Kansas earned the double play after the umpire ruled that Ricketts did not tag up and the inning came to an end.

Fox continued the rally in the second with a leadoff double, but another double play cost the Sooners as Lindsey Vandever hit a line drive to the second baseman, who picked Fox off at second. Savannah Long followed that with a hard-hit ball to the wall that the left fielder dropped on an error and it looked like OU might rally again with a runner at second, but a pop up by Traci Dickenson ended the inning.

Dickson set a Big 12 record in the top of the third as the senior scored her 67th run of the season after crossing the plate on Flores' RBI double to center to push the lead to 8-0. Following a Ricketts walk, Ogden continued the rally with an RBI single to left that scored Flores and extended OU's advantage to 4-0 with one out and runners at first and second.

Fox answered that with a three-run homer over left field that knocked starting pitcher Kassie Humphreys out of the game. It marked Fox's eighth home run of the season and 28th of her career, which ranks seventh on the OU career list.

The pitching change didn't halt the OU offense as Valerie George came in the circle for the Jayhawks. Vandever walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following an OU out, Dickenson ripped an RBI single to center field as OU led 8-0.

D.J. Mathis came in to replace Eckermann in the bottom of the fourth, but gave up two runs. KU's Elle Pottorf led off with a solo home run over right center field to end the shutout. The Jayhawks continued the momentum with two singles and a walk. Ally Stanton's RBI single to the left side of the field scored KU's second run of the game before the frame ended.

Vandever answered in the top of the fifth with a leadoff solo home run over center field, her fourth of the season. Two outs later, Dickson followed with another solo home run. It marked her third home run of the season and only the second of her career that was outside of the park. Following the home run, OU led 10-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Eckermann reentered in the bottom of the fifth for Mathis, but also gave up a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth as KU cut the lead to 10-3.

Ricketts answered in the sixth with her 17th home run of the season, a solo towering shot over the right field wall. It marked her 77th RBI of the season, which ties the OU and Big 12 single season record that was set by former Sooner Lisa Carey in 2000. Following a Susan Ogden hit by pitch, the Jayhawks replaced pitchers again with Sarah Vertelka taking over the reigns from George.

Fox followed that with her second double of the season as OU had runners at second and third with one out as a Vandever walked to load the bases. Jessica Legendre recorded a pinch-hit fielder's choice RBI. Dickenson followed that with an RBI single to push the OU lead to 13-3.

Kansas added another run in the bottom of the sixth, but it wasn't enough as OU recorded its 18th run rule of the season.

The contest concluded OU's Big 12 season and the Sooners will now have to sit and wait this week to see where they will finish in the conference standings. OU needs Missouri and Baylor to lose one game each this week in order to take home the Big 12 trophy.

Oklahoma will conclude their regular season next Thursday as it hosts OCU at 7 p.m. The contest will mark Senior Night as the team will honor the six-member class of Stacia Aleman, Norrelle Dickson, Jamie Fox, Mariee Mena, Jade Prather and Amber Spaulding.

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