Sooners Tame Tigers, 8-0

April 5, 2008

Oklahoma 8, Missouri 0

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

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Mathis (19-3)	6	4	0	0	2	4
L - Bruck (9-6)	5.1	9	8	6	3	2

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	TB
OU - Flores	3	2	3	2	1	4
OU - Player	3	1	1	2	0	4

Sooner Softball Central

2008 OU Softball Media Guide

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 11 Oklahoma softball team run ruled Missouri, 8-0, in six innings Saturday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex and now owns a 5-0 start in Big 12 play and a 31-8 overall mark.

The Tigers, who were receiving votes in this week's top-25 polls, were shut out for the first time since Feb. 15 and only the fifth time this season. Missouri fell to 33-11 and 2-3 in the conference.

"I was really pleased with our offense coming out strong to set the tone for the game," head coach Patty Gasso said. "D.J. Mathis did a great job keeping the momentum going in the circle and our lineup came through with clutch RBI as we only stranded two runners on base the whole game."

The Sooner offense was stellar as it recorded eight runs on nine hits in the six-inning contest and plated five of its runs in the first two innings.

The Big 12 batting leader, Amber Flores, continued her solid hitting as she was a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in the contest. The left fielder boosted her batting average to .445 and owns a team-best 37 RBI on the season.

Starter D.J. Mathis gave up two consecutive hits to open the game in the top of the first, but quickly settled as she only gave two more hits the rest of the game and threw her 10th shutout of the season. Mathis improved to 19-3 with the shutout while also striking out four and walking two in six complete innings.

Missouri was the first to threaten in the contest as the Tigers recorded back-to-singles to open the game, but Mathis showed how solid she is when runners on base. The lefty retired the next three batters to escape without giving up a run.

Flores sparked the Sooners in the bottom of the first as she led off with a single to center and was moved over to second on Krystle Huey's groundout. Senior Susan Ogden quickly put the momentum on OU's side as she ripped and RBI double to center field to give OU the early 1-0 lead. An out later, Traci Dickenson blasted her eighth homer of the season, a two-run shot to left field, as OU owned the 3-0 advantage heading into the second.

The OU offense didn't let up in the second as designated player Wendy Trott led off with a walk. Jessica Legendre followed that with a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second. Next, freshman Haley Anderson struck out but the catcher dropped the third strike and Anderson made it safely to first to put OU runners at first and second with one out. Flores once again came through as she doubled to right field, scoring two runs and pushing the OU lead to 5-0 after two complete innings.

Once again Missouri had two runners on base and no outs as the Tigers led off the fourth with a walk and a single. Following a sacrifice bunt, both runners moved into scoring position with only one out. However, Mathis and the Oklahoma defense stepped up. The next batter reached on a fielder's choice, as the Sooners got the second out of the inning on a tag play at home. Mathis struck out the next batter to end the inning and keep the shutout going.

Flores stole the show again in the bottom of the fourth as she notched a two-out double to right field on a 3-2 count. On the next player, the junior advanced to third on a passed ball, but as the catcher threw down to third the shortstop committed an error on the catch and Flores advanced all the way home for OU's sixth run of the game.

Junior Samantha Ricketts stole the show in the bottom of the fifth as she plated another run with her solo homer to right field, marking her eighth home run of the season and the team's 59th.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth with the Sooners leading 7-0, Oklahoma needed one more run to record its 14th run rule of the season and freshman Krystle Huey made it happen. Making only her 17th start of the season, she recorded a one-out bases loaded single to right field to plate the eighth and final run of the game.

Missouri pitcher Jen Bruck took the loss for the Tigers as she fell to 9-6 on the year after giving up nine hits and six earned runs in 5.1 innings of work. Bruck struck out two and walked three.

The Sooners and Tigers will conclude the two-game series on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on KOKC 1520 with Brian Brinkley (play-by-play) and Norrelle Dickson (color). The first 1,000 fans will receive free OU trading cards and the Sooners will hold an autograph session afterwards.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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