OU Dominates Memphis in 17-0 Win

March 1, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - The Sooners used a huge eight-run first inning to run rule Memphis, 17-0, in five innings in the second game of the OU Residence Inn Tournament doubleheader on Saturday at the OU Softball Complex.

The Sooners improved to 15-4 and 2-0 in the OU Residence Inn Invitational after OU run ruled North Texas, 9-0, in earlier tournament action on Saturday. The Memphis contest concluded OU's doubleheader on Saturday.

OU will play another doubleheader on Sunday as part of the Residence Inn Invitational. The original times of Sunday's games have been moved up due to anticipated weather in the Norman area on Sunday afternoon. The Sooners will now play Memphis again at approximately 12:15 p.m. followed by a contest against North Texas slated for 2:30 p.m.

"I wasn't pleased with our sloppy effort in the North Texas game today so I really challenged this team and they turned it on against Memphis," head coach Patty Gasso. "It was great to see our bats come through tonight and hopefully our offense will continue to improve. However, the story continues to be how well our pitching has done and I'm so pleased with the pitching staff night after night."

The Oklahoma offense took off in the contest as it recorded a season-high 17 runs on a season-high 14 hits against the Tigers. Traci Dickenson led the way with a 3-for-3 outing with six RBI while Amber Flores, Samantha Ricketts and Lindsey Vandever each added two RBI a piece. Ricketts highlighted the night with her second home run of the day while Dickenson also pounded a home run.

OU pitcher D.J. Mathis pushed her record to 11-1 after throwing the first three innings and allowing zero runs on two hits. Mathis combined with reliever Jadyn Smith for the combined shutout as Smith didn't allow a run and only gave up one hit in two complete innings.

The Sooners poured it on in the top of the first as Oklahoma was the designated visiting team against Memphis. Dickenson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Savannah Long followed with a bunt single. Amber Flores got the Sooners on the board first with a two RBI double to centerfield to give OU the 2-0.

However, the Sooners were just starting. Ricketts followed that with a walk as Lindsey Vandever took her turn with a two-RBI single to right field. Following an Ogden strikeout, Chanae Jones pounded an RBI single to center field to push the OU advantage to 5-0. Next, Jessica Legendre walked and was moved over to second on Krystle Huey's sacrifice bunt. With runners at second and third, Dickenson returned to the plate and hammered a two RBI single to centerfield as OU led 7-0. Next, Long walked and Memphis starter Kimber Bossom was replaced by Rayna McClinton.

However, McClinton walked the next two batters as OU scored another run and took the 8-0 lead before the top of the first ended. Memphis' Bossom gave up eight runs on five hits in 0.2 innings of action while also walking three. Bossom earned the loss and fell to 3-3.

Dickenson continued the momentum in the second with her two-out three-run homer over centerfield to give OU the 11-0 advantage. It marked the junior's fourth home run of the year.

Ricketts came through again in the third as she pounded a two-run homer, marking her second homer of the day. Oklahoma didn't let up as an out later, Ogden walked. Following another out, Jessica Legendre's RBI single to right field put another run on the board. Dickenson followed that with an RBI single as OU took the 15-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third.

Ricketts sparked a rally again in the fourth as she doubled off the right field wall with one out. Following a pop out, Iver McDonald recorded an infield single. Next, Chana'e Jones hard hit ball caused an error by the Memphis second baseman as Ricketts scored on the play and OU owned the 16-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Reliever Jadyn Smith replaced OU starter D.J. Mathis to start the bottom of the fourth.

The Sooners added an additional run in the top of the fifth following an error by the Memphis second baseman as OU led 17-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

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