Eckermann Throws Perfect Game

Feb. 12, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. -- Senior pitcher Lauren Eckermann threw a perfect game and Savannah Long hit a walk-off grand slam as the No. 9 Oklahoma softball team run ruled St. Gregory's, 10-0, in five innings on Tuesday afternoon inside the OU Softball Complex.

The Sooners moved to 4-2 on the year while St. Gregory's, ranked No. 6 in NAIA, fell to 0-1. Eckermann picked up her first win of the season in dramatic fashion as she threw the perfect game. She became only the sixth OU player since the start of Big 12 play to throw a perfect game and the first pitcher to do it since Jennifer Stewart tossed a perfect game against Texas-Arlington on Feb. 8, 2002.

Eckermann allowed no walks and no hits while striking out four batters as she pitched her fourth no-hitter in an Oklahoma uniform. The junior tossed three no-hitters during the 2007 season.

"Lauren really settled in today and pitched a great game that we knew she was capable of," Associate Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "We have been trying to improve in every game we play this season and I thought both our offense and defense did that today. Now, we need to take this with us to Las Vegas this weekend and continue to get better."

In addition to Eckermann's pitching, the Sooner offense was solid as it collected eight hits in the five-inning contest. Long continued her hot play at the plate as she went 2-for-4 with four RBI, which included a double and a grand slam. Sophomore Amber Flores, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, went 2-for-3 with an RBI as she also pounded a double. Traci Dickenson and Wendy Trott added to the extra-base hits as each had a double.

Long got the OU momentum going in the bottom of the first with her double off the left field wall, marking her fifth two-bagger in 13 at-bats. Flores, the current Big 12 Player of the Week, followed with an RBI double down the left field line that scored Long as Flores advanced to third on a throwing error by the left fielder. Susan Ogden followed that with a two-out single and the Sooners loaded the bases after two consecutive walks as freshman Wendy Trott stepped to the plate.

The designated player did not disappoint as she hammered a three-RBI double off the center field wall as OU took the 5-0 lead. Samantha Ricketts sparked a two-out rally in the bottom of the second with her single up the middle. Ogden followed that with a walk and Dickenson hammered a double to centerfield that scored Ricketts and placed runners in scoring position. However, Lindsey Vandever struck out to end the frame but the Sooners still led 6-0.

In the fifth, Dickenson led off with a walk and two errors left the bases loaded as Long stepped to the plate. The senior shortstop provided quite a highlight as she delivered a two-out grand slam over left center to end the game in a run rule with OU taking the 10-0 win.

The Sooners will hit the road this weekend for the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic (Feb. 15-17) in Las, Vegas. Oklahoma will play BYU in the tournament opener on Friday at 2 p.m. (CT).

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