Dickenson Keys Comeback Victory

Final: Oklahoma 4, Princeton 3 | Box Score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Princeton	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	3	7	0
Oklahoma	0	0	0	0	2	2	x	4	8	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Eckermann (7-2)	7	7	3	3	1	8
L - Schaus (1-8)	6	8	4	4	2	8

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	TB
OU - Dickenson	2	1	1	1	1	4
OU - Long	3	0	2	1	0	2

Sooner Softball Central

2008 OU Softball Media Guide

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Traci Dickenson hit a key solo home run in the sixth inning to tie up the game as the No. 8 Oklahoma softball team went on to edge Princeton, 4-3, Sunday morning in the finale of Capital Classic action in Sacramento, Calif.

The Sooners finished the tournament with an overall mark of 4-1 with wins over Cal Poly, Colorado State, Sacramento State and Princeton while falling to California.

The Sooners moved to 25-7 on the year while the Tigers fell to 3-9.

Oklahoma trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth but Dickenson led off with a solo home run to tie it up and the Sooners took advantage. Oklahoma eventually loaded the bases in the sixth and Savannah Long was hit by a pitch to bring the winning run across the plate.

OU pitcher Lauren Eckermann improved her record to 7-2 as she allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out eight.

Both teams were even offensively as Oklahoma tallied eight hits to Princeton's seven. In addition to Dickenson. Long had a strong outing at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Susan Ogden also tallied a 2-for-3 performance.

Princeton got on the board first as Kathryn Welch ripped a one-out solo home run over the left field fence to give the Tigers the early 1-0 lead. An out later, Princeton's Jamie Lettire notched a single to center field and Kristin Arguedas followed that with a walk. However, Eckermann struck out the next batter as the Sooners escaped without giving up any more runs.

OU threatened in the fourth as Savannah Long led off with a single and was sacrifice bunted over to second by Amber Flores. Next, Samantha Ricketts flew out to right field, which advanced Long to third. Dickenson followed that with a walk as the Sooners had runners at the corners with two outs. However, OU couldn't take advantage as Vandever struck out to end the frame.

The Sooners answered in the fifth as Ogden led off with a single to left. Dani Dobbs subbed in for Ogden to pinch run and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Next, Wendy Trott grounded out for the first out of the frame but Dobbs advanced to third on the play. Jessica Legendre followed that with an RBI single to right field to even the game at 1-1. The Sooners weren't finished as Iver McDonald and Savannah Long recorded back-to-back singles to load the bases for Flores. The sophomore left fielder recorded a sacrifice fly to center field as OU took the 2-1 lead. The Sooners weren't able to plate any more runs as Ricketts flew out to right field to end the rally.

Princeton didn't back down as the Tigers led off the sixth with a single. Eckermann followed that with a strikeout and Princeton's Kelsey Quist notched a fielder's choice for the second out of the game. Princeton had a runner at first and two outs when Lettire ripped a single that went into center field. However, OU centerfielder Iver McDonald recorded a fielding error and Princeton `s Quist scored all the way from first to even the game up. Next, Arguedas ripped a single to right field to score Lettire and take the 4-3 lead. However, Arguedas was thrown out trying to advance to second to end the inning but the Tigers led 4-3.

It didn't take long for the Sooners to even it up as Dickenson led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to centerfield to tie it up at 4-4. Vandever followed with a walk and Ogden recorded a single to right as OU had runners at first and second with no outs. Next, Trott flew out to center for the first out of the frame and Legendre followed that with a strikeout. However, McDonald was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs for Long. The senior captain was hit by a pitch on a 3-1 count to earn the RBI as Vandever scored to give OU the 4-3 lead. Flores popped up to end the inning, but OU led 4-3.

Princeton had one final chance in the top of the seventh as Collette Abbott led off with a bloop double to right field. The next batter tried to bunt Abbott to third, but her bunt popped up to Eckermann who made a diving catch for the first out. On the next play, OU catcher Vandever picked off Abbott at second for the second out of the frame. Eckermann secured the victory as she struck out the next batter to end the game.

The Sooners return to the diamond this Wednesday as they host Missouri State for one game at 5 p.m. at the OU Softball Complex.

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