OU Drops McNeese State, 9-1

March 8, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 9 Oklahoma softball team got back on a winning track on Saturday as it opened the OU Worth Invitational with a 9-1 run rule of McNeese State in five innings on Saturday afternoon. The Sooners improved to 18-5 while McNeese State fell to 7-20.

The Sooners continued their Saturday doubleheader as they started the game against Drake at approximately 4:45 p.m.

OU pitcher Lauren Eckermann made her first appearance in the circle since Feb. 17 and was solid as she earned the win and improved her record to 4-2. The senior struck out seven and only gave up one run on four hits while walking none in all five innings of play.

Offensively, the Sooners were also solid as they recorded nine runs on 12 hits as Savannah Long led the way with a 3-for-4 outing with an RBI and her eighth double of the season. Amber Flores went 2-for-4 with two RBI and the game-ending home run while Samantha Ricketts also added two RBI.

Oklahoma started off strong in the bottom of the first as Traci Dickenson and Long led off with back-to-back singles and an out later, Ricketts loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Next, Lindsey Vandever stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI single to center field to get the Sooners on the board first. Oklahoma couldn't plate any more runs as the next two batters were retired, but OU led 1-0 after the first inning.

The Sooners put another run on the board in the second as Long roped a two-out RBI double to center field that scored Dickenson, who had reached on a walk. Flores followed that with an RBI single down the left field line to push the OU lead to 3-0. However, Flores was caught stealing second to end the inning and OU's rally.

McNeese threatened in the third as Megan Beard led off with a double off the center field wall and advanced to third on a fly out to center field. However, Eckermann struck out the next batter and catcher Lindsey Vandever picked off Beard at third for the final out of the inning.

Oklahoma loaded the bases with two outs in the third following singles by Vandever and Haley Anderson and Jessica Legendre was hit by a pitch. Freshman Krystle Huey came through with an infield slap single that scored Vandever and extended the Sooner lead to 4-0 heading into the fourth.

McNeese answered back in the fourth as Lindsey Langner led off with a double down the right field line and was bunted over to third on the next play. With one out, Jenny Clay ripped an RBI single to right field as McNeese State closed the gap, 4-1. It also marked the first run this season the Sooners have given up at home.

Long led off the fourth with a single and Flores reached on an error as the Sooners had runners at second and third with no outs. Ricketts followed that with a two-RBI double off the center field wall to extend the OU lead to 6-1. Ricketts' double ended McNeese starter Michelle LaVoie's stay in the circle as she was replaced by reliever Bethany Stefinsky. Two outs later, Jessica Legendre pounded a two-RBI double to center field as OU extended its advantage to 8-1.

Flores sealed the deal in the bottom of the fifth as she pounded a two-out solo home run that went over the second fence in centerfield to give OU the 9-1 lead and ending the game in a run rule. It marked the sophomore's fifth homer of the season.

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