Softball Adds Another Run-Rule Win

March 2, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 9 Oklahoma softball team (16-4) took advantage of strong winds blowing straight out to centerfield on Sunday afternoon as the Sooners opened the first inning with three straight home runs and went on to run rule Memphis, 10-0, at the OU Softball Complex.

The Sooners began game two of the doubleheader on Sunday as they began play against North Texas at 2:30 p.m.

Samantha Ricketts, Lindsey Vandever and Susan Ogden highlighted the day as they hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the first inning. Ricketts led the way against Memphis with three RBI. The Sooners finished with 10 hits in four innings.

OU starter D.J. Mathis improved her record to 12-1 after throwing the first three innings and giving up zero runs on two hits while striking out six. Jadyn Smith came in for relief and didn't allow a run or a hit in the final two innings.

Ricketts was OU's offensive spark once again as the junior pounded her third home run of the tournament, a three-run shot over centerfield, in the bottom of the first that gave OU the early 3-0 lead. Vandever followed that with a solo home run over right field to add a 4-0 lead. The Sooners weren't done as Susan Ogden hammered a solo homer over left field. The third consecutive home run ended Memphis starter Rayna McClinton's stay in the circle as she was relieved by Janelle Valle.

McClinton fell to 1-1 on the year after allowing five runs on three hits in 0.1 innings.

Valle faced OU's Chana'e Jones as her first batter and the freshman reached second base after Memphis centerfielder Lindsay Kelso dropped a fly ball. Jones advanced to third on a wild pitch before Jessica Legendre struck out for the second out of the inning. However, Krystle Huey followed that with an RBI double to push the OU lead to 6-0 at the end of the first inning.

Oklahoma added more in the second as Savannah Long led off the frame with a single and scored on Vandever's RBI single to right field. Ogden followed that with a single to right as OU had runners at the corners with two outs. Next, Jones blooped a single to centerfield that scored Vandever as OU led 8-0.

The Tigers threatened in the third as Memphis' Tori Gross was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Following a Mathis strikeout, Leila Dolfo single to left and Leandra Hines followed that with a walk to load the bases. However, Mathis struck out the next two batters as the Sooners escaped without giving up a run.

Oklahoma loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with no outs. Ricketts popped up to the shortstop for the first out and Dickenson was thrown out on a force at home for the next out. However, Ogden and Jones recorded back-to-back walks to bring two runs across the plate as took the 10-0 advantage.

Reliever Jadyn Smith replaced Mathis to start the top of the fourth and didn't give up a hit as OU took the 10-0 run-rule win. .

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