Ricketts' Homer Sparks Bedlam Win

April 22, 2008

STILLWATER, Okla. - Concluding the rain-delayed contest from April 2, the No. 8 OU softball squad (38-11, 11-2) defeated Oklahoma State (24-21, 7-6) 3-1 in the first installment of the Ford Bedlam Series in Stillwater, Okla., on Tuesday.

Oklahoma opened the contest with a 2-0 lead as it scored two runs in the first frame on April 2 before the game was postponed.

The Sooners picked up their 12th straight win against the Cowgirls as they improved to 38-11 and 11-2 in the Big 12 while Oklahoma State fell to 24-21 and 7-6 in the conference.

"I thought we came out and set the tone early and that was key tonight," head coach Patty Gasso said. "D.J. Mathis was solid in the circle and Jessica Legendre had a great defensive night at third base. We need to get more clutch hits because we left too many runners on base, but Samantha Ricketts was solid at the plate with her three RBIs."

OSU's Heather Kim opened the game with one out and a 2-2 count in the bottom of the second. Mathis struck out Kim on the first pitch and followed that with a strikeout of Ashley Boyd to end the second frame.

Ricketts picked up right where she left off before the game was postponed. The first baseman led off the third with a solo home run to right field to extend the Sooner lead to 3-0. Ricketts also recorded a two-RBI single in the top of the first when the Sooners began the game on April 2.

Oklahoma State's Hamilton broke up Mathis' no-hitter in the top of the fourth as she singled up the middle with one out. An out later, Megan Castle's single to left field scored Hamilton and put the Cowgirls on the board. Next, Mathis walked Kim, putting the tying run at first. However, the next batter popped up to OU shortstop Savannah Long and Mathis escaped without giving up another run.

Susan Ogden opened the fifth with a leadoff single up the middle, marking her second hit of the game. Following a Ricketts' fly out, Iver McDonald, pinch running for Ogden, stole second to move into scoring position. McDonald moved over to third on Vandever's groundout to second, but the Sooners couldn't plate any runs as Chana'e Jones ended the inning with a groundout.

Jessica Legendre sparked the Sooners in the sixth with a one-out double off the right centerfield wall. However, OU couldn't take advantage as the next two batters were retired to end the top of the sixth.

The Sooners went three up, three down in the top of the seventh as they headed to the bottom of the seventh with the 3-1 lead.

Mathis was solid in the seventh as she retired all three batters she faced, including the final 10 batters she faced.

Oklahoma is seeking its 11th Bedlam sweep in the last 13 seasons as the Sooners face OSU in Norman on Wednesday. OU has claimed 12 straight wins in the rivalry and 26 of the last 27.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at the OU softball complex as the game will be televised by Cox Communications (Cox Ch. 7 in OKC and Cox Ch. 3 in Tulsa).

Tickets for Wednesday's "Pack the Park" night are sold out. Restricted admission tickets will be sold on Wednesday as available based upon the crowd. Restricted admission tickets allow entry into the ballpark but do not guarantee the ticket holder a seat location.

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