Eckermann Shines, OU Advances

NORMAN, Okla. Junior hurler Lauren Eckermann showed why she is the Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year Friday night as she led the No. 2 Oklahoma softball team to a 5-0 shutout of Kansas by throwing a one-hitter at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in OU's first game at the Big 12 Championship.

The Sooners improved to 50-6 with the win and have advanced to the semifinals set for Saturday at 11 a.m. OU, the two seed, will take on third-seeded and No. 18 Missouri (38-21) on the main field at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. The Sooners split with the Tigers in Columbia earlier this season. Brian Brinkley, OU's play-by-play voice, will be calling the game live on KOKC 1520 AM.

“I was concerned with our two weeks off, but to score early was really important for us,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I thought Lauren was exceptional and our defense was exceptional and our freshmen came up huge for us tonight. A lot of good things happened. Our team has been working hard all week with finals and practice so it was really good to finally get out here and play tonight with that being the only thing on their minds.”

Tournament Central

The title game of the Big 12 Championship is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday and it will be televised live by Fox Sports Southwest (Cox 37 in OKC). Kansas fell to 33-24-1 on the season and was eliminated from the single-elimination tournament after beating Iowa State earlier today.

Eckermann threw her 11th shutout of the season, allowing only one hit and two walks. The juco-transfer struck out six Jayhawks in the contest while improving her record to 32-3, which ranks third in the nation. Eckermann had a no-hitter until the top of the sixth when Kansas led off with a single, its only hit of the game.

All-Big 12 first team selection Samantha Ricketts led the offense with two hits while freshman catcher Lindsey Vandever recorded a team-best two RBI in the contest. Fellow freshman Amber Flores, also an All-Big 12 first team selection, added an RBI with her eighth home run of the season.

Ricketts sparked OU's offense in the bottom of the second with her leadoff single to left field. An out later, Jamie Fox walked to place runners at first and second. Vandever stepped to the plate and delivered a two RBI double down the left field line to give OU the early 2-0 lead. Vandever advanced to third on the throw home as OU had a runner at third and no outs. Savannah Long followed that with a walk to place runners at the corners. With two outs and back to the start of the lineup, Dickson reached on KU's error which also scored a run as OU led 3-0 after two.

Neither team could produce much offense until Flores ripped a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the fifth as OU took the 4-0 advantage. The Sooners continued the rally as Ricketts followed with a single and Ogden followed with a walk. With two outs, Fox reached on an error by KU's third baseman as Ricketts scored on the play to bring OU's lead to 5-0.

KU pitcher Kassie Humphreys, who hurled a win against the Sooners two weeks ago, took the loss after going 4.2 innings and giving up three earned runs on five hits. Humphreys, who also pitched an eight-inning contest earlier in the day, fell to 19-15 on the season. KU's Valerie George threw the final 1.1 innings and didn't allow a run while only giving up one hit.

Oklahoma will aim for its sixth title game appearance in the Big 12 Championship when it takes on Missouri in the semifinals at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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