Worth Invitational Awaits OU

OU Worth Invitational
Dates	March 8-9
Saturday	vs. McNeese State (2:30 p.m.) vs. Drake (4:45 p.m.)
Sunday	vs. Drake (1:15 p.m.) vs. McNeese State (3:30 p.m)
Location	Norman, Okla.\|OU Softball Complex
Promotions	Saturday and Sunday
Webcast	Oklahoma All-Access
Live Stats	SoonerSports.com / GameTracker
Game Info	Game Notes (PDF) \| OU Media Guide

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
The No. 9 Oklahoma softball team will close out the week with its final home tournament of the regular season. The Sooners (17-5) will host the OU Worth Invitational at the OU Softball Complex this Saturday and Sunday. The three-team field will include Drake and McNeese State as the Sooners will play each team twice over the course of the weekend.

The Sooners will open the tournament on Saturday with McNeese State at 2:30 p.m. and conclude the Saturday doubleheader with a 4:45 p.m. contest against Drake. In Sunday's action, the Sooners will play another doubleheader as they take on Drake at 1:15 p.m. and play McNeese State in the tournament finale at 3:30 p.m.

LIVE STATS AND VIDEO COVERAGE
Fans that can't attend the games can follow the games via live stats. In addition, All-Access will provide video for both OU games on Sunday. All-Access is a subscription service part of SoonerSports.com that offers inside video coverage exclusive to subscribers.

PROMOTIONS
On Saturday, there will be free foam OU's for all fans in attendance. In Sunday's action, there will be free OU mouse pads.

TOURNAMENT TICKETS
Tickets for this weekend's tournament are single-day tickets and are available for $10 (reserved), $7 (general admission), $5 (youth and senior citizen) at the OU Athletics Ticket Office (800-456-4668) and at SoonerSports.com. The gates will open an hour before the first games of the day. Drake and McNeese State will open each day with a 12:15 p.m. contest on Saturday and an 11 a.m. meeting on Sunday.

SCOUTING MCNEESE STATE
The Cowgirls of McNeese State enter this weekend's tournament with an overall mark of 7-18. McNeese State's wins this season have come against Prairie View A&M, Furman, Southern University, Texas Southern and Northwestern State. The Cowgirls are currently on a five-game losing streak after dropping a doubleheader to Southern Miss on Wednesday night and losing three straight to UTSA last weekend. The offense has been solid for the Cowgirls this season as the team posts a .276 batting average with designated player Jenny Clay leading the way with a .350 clip while cleanup hitter Michelle LaVoie is doing her job as she owns a team-best 18 RBI. McNeese also brings a lot of speed as the Cowgirls have swiped 56 of 71 stolen bases this year with Clay stealing 12 and Molly Guidry leading the team with 15 stolen bases. In the circle, the five-member staff owns an 8.16 ERA as opponents are hitting .338 against the pitchers. LaVoie is the squad's leading pitcher with a 5.48 ERA and a 5-8 record in 67.1 innings of work.

SCOUTING DRAKE
Drake has surprised some teams this year as the Bulldogs upset Michigan earlier this season and own a 7-8 overall record. The Bulldogs have won their last three straight, including a 10-0 run rule of Arkansas last weekend. The Bulldog pitching has been steady as Drake boasts a team ERA of 2.20. Lefty freshman Brynne Dordel is leading the way in the circle with a 1.10 ERA and 5-2 record. The rookie has 55 strikeouts in 51 innings of work and is holding the opponents to a .172 batting average. Offensively, the team owns a .208 batting average and owns nine home runs on the season. Shortstop Elena Leon is one of the starters leading the way with a .288 average. Cleanup batter and designated player Susan Slycord owns a team-best 11 RBI while Jaci Faidley has hit a team-leading three home runs this season.

LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma snapped its seven-game winning streak on Wednesday night as the Sooners fell to Tulsa, 5-3, at the Donna J. Hardesty Complex in Tulsa, Okla. The teams split the series this season after Oklahoma run ruled the Golden Hurricane, 8-0, a week ago. The Sooners couldn't overcome a three-run fifth inning by Tulsa as well as two home runs. OU starter D.J. Mathis recorded only her second loss of the year and fell to 13-2 with the loss. Mathis also snapped her 37 consecutive innings streak without giving up a home run. OU's Samantha Ricketts highlighted the offense with her fourth home run in the last five games.

UP NEXT
Oklahoma will hit the road for its final non-conference tournament of the regular season. The Sooners will head to Fresno, Calif., for a meeting with No. 21 Fresno State next Thursday at 7 p.m. before heading to Sacramento for the Capital Classic (March 14-16).

The Sooners will open Capital Classic action with a 12 p.m. (CST) game against Cal Poly on Friday followed by a 5 p.m. contest against Colorado State. In Saturday's action, Oklahoma will face Sacramento State at 12 p.m. and California at 2:30 p.m. The Sooners will round out tournament action with an 11 a.m. contest against Princeton.

SOONER PITCHING PERFECT AT HOME
The Sooner pitching has been solid in the friendly confines of the OU Softball Complex this season as Oklahoma has not allowed a single opponent to score a run on Marita Hynes Field in 2008. The Sooner staff is 6-0 and has only allowed 12 hits in 32 innings while striking out 36 batters.

37 CONSECUTIVE INNINGS STREAK SNAPPED
OU pitcher D.J. Mathis ended her streak of 37 consecutive innings without giving up a run (earned or unearned) against Tulsa on March 5. The junior lefty gave up a home run in the bottom of the second to end the streak. Prior to that, her last run to give up was a home run to start off the sixth inning against Stanford on Feb. 22.

RICKETTS MOVES UP TO NO. 6
Junior Samantha Ricketts has caught fire in the last week and has hit four home runs in the last five games. Prior to that, Ricketts hadn't hit a home run yet this season. The 2007 second team All-American is quickly moving up the OU career list for home runs as she is now No. 6 on the list with 31 home runs in her career after pounding a solo shot against Tulsa on Wednesday night.

POWER HITTERS
After hitting 12 home runs in the last week, the Sooners are establishing themselves as one of the power teams of the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma currently leads the league in home runs (28), slugging percentage (.515) and on-base percentage (.410).

SMITH IN RELIEF
Senior pitcher Jadyn Smith only owns a 1-1 record but has been solid in relief work for the Sooners this season in seven appearances. Smith posts a team-best 0.39 ERA and is even better in relief situations as she owns a perfect 0.00 ERA when not starting. She has thrown 15 innings of relief and owns 14 strikeouts during that time. She also picked up a win against Pacific in relief effort.

LONG BALL
Senior Savannah Long is off to a hot start for her final season as she owns a .355 batting average through 22 games this season. In addition, the shortstop has been one of the team's top power hitters as she owns a .758 slugging percentage and has seven doubles and leads the team with six home runs (second in the Big 12).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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