Softball Run Rules Texas, Again

April 27, 2008

Oklahoma 8, Texas 0 (5 Innings)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	x	x	0	3	1
Oklahoma	7	0	1	0	x	x	x	8	9	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Eckermann (13-4)	5	3	0	0	0	5
L - Barnhill (6-10)	0.2	5	7	7	3	0

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	TB
OU - Huey	3	1	3	2	0	4
OU - Ogden	3	1	2	1	0	2

Sooner Softball Central

2008 OU Softball Media Guide

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 8 Oklahoma softball team plated seven runs in the first inning and run ruled Texas, 8-0, for the second consecutive game on Sunday at the OU Softball Complex.

The Sooners swept Texas for the first time since 2004 and extended their win streak to six straight in their final home series of the season in front of 1,234 fans at the OU Softball Complex.

Sunday's run rule over the Longhorns also marked the first in Texas Big 12 history that the Longhorns had been run ruled in back-to-back games and only the third time in school history.

Oklahoma pushed its record to 41-11 and 14-2 overall and are guaranteed to finish at least second in the Big 12 standings with one Big 12 series remaining against Baylor, but still have a chance to share the Big 12 Championship with Texas A&M if the Aggies lose to Texas on Wednesday night.

Oklahoma has finished second or higher in the conference nine times out of the 13 years the Big 12 has been in existence.

The Longhorns fell to 25-19-2 and 9-8 in the league.

"This team is playing so well together now and we have such a fresh mindset right now while we are playing," head coach Patty Gasso said. "This team is really getting hot at the right time and I'm so pleased with the way our pitching and offense is working together right now."

Senior pitcher Lauren Eckermann continued her stellar play in Big 12 action as she improved to 13-4 with her fourth shutout of the season. Eckermann only gave up three hits in the complete five-inning game while allowing zero walks and striking out five. The senior entered the weekend as the Big 12 leader in ERA in conference games and improved her conference ERA to 0.92.

Offensively, the game was decided in the bottom of the first when the Sooners poured in seven runs. The Sooners tallied nine hits in the game and were led by freshman Krystle Huey, who had a career day with a 3-for-3 outing, including a double and two RBIs. Savannah Long also highlighted the offense with two RBIs. Susan Ogden had the squad's only other multiple-hit outing with a 2-for-3 performance as she pushed her hitting streak to a team-best six straight games.
The Longhorns threatened in the first as Desiree Williams led off the game and was hit by a pitch. An out later, Williams stole second and advanced to third on throwing error by OU catcher Lindsey Vandever. However, Tallie Thrasher lined out to OU shortstop Long and Eckermann struck out the next batter to end the frame.

Oklahoma responded right back and poured in seven runs on six hits and three walks in the first frame. The Sooners loaded the bases with one out as Lindsey Vandever earned the bases-loaded RBI walk to put the first OU run across the board. However, Oklahoma poured on six more in the inning, highlighted by Long's two-RBI single, Haley Anderson's RBI single and an Amber Flores walk with the bases loaded.

With OU leading 5-0 with two outs, UT starter Brittany Barnhill was relieved by Texas pitcher Meagan Denny who came in and gave up a two-RBI bloop double to OU's Krystle Huey to extend the OU advantage to 7-0. However, Denny struck out Ogden to end the frame.

Barnhill took the loss and fell to 6-10 after giving up seven earned runs on five hits in 0.2 innings of work. The freshman also walked three.

Oklahoma added another in the fourth as Legendre led off with a walk and two outs later, Huey notched an infield single. Ogden followed that with an RBI single to left that scored Legendre and extended the OU lead to 8-0 after three frames.

Eckermann mowed down nine batters in a row before giving up back-to-back Texas singles in the top of the fifth. However, the senior retired the final two batters of the frame to end the game in a run rule.

The Sooners will close out their regular season this Wednesday as they head to Waco to play Baylor in a doubleheader. The first game of the twin bill is set to begin at 5 p.m. The second game of the twin bill will be broadcast on KOKC 1520 and will begin at approximately 7 p.m.

OU will also hold its Fan Fest and Senior Night this Friday night at 6 p.m. at the OU Softball Complex. Fans will be able to send off seniors Lauren Eckermann, Savannah Long, Susan Ogden and Jadyn Smith. There will not be a game played that night, but fans are encouraged to come out and play interactive games with the team while playing on the field and getting autographs.

Game Notes: OU's last time to run rule a Big 12 opponent in consecutive games was against Iowa State in 2001 ... The last time Texas was run ruled in consecutive games was in 2002 by UMass and UCLA ... Texas has never been run ruled in consecutive games in Big 12 history ... OU registered over 1,000 fans in its final three home games of the regular season ... Susan Ogden owns a team-best six-game hitting streak ... Oklahoma has finished second or higher in the conference nine times out of the 13 years the Big 12 has been in existence.

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