Ricketts' Clutch Hit Leads to Sweep

April 6, 2008

Box Score: Oklahoma 4, Missouri 3 Photos

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

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Mathis (20-3)	4.1	0	0	0	0	7
L - Hainey (10-3)	0.2	2	1	1	1	1

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

Sooner Softball Central

2008 OU Softball Media Guide

NORMAN, Okla. --Junior Samantha Ricketts recorded the walk-off game-winning RBI single as the No. 11 Oklahoma softball team swept the Missouri series with a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Sunday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex.

The Sooners are now 6-0 in the Big 12 for the first time since 2002 and own a 32-8 overall record. Missouri fell to 33-12 and 2-4 in the Big 12 after being swept by the Sooners this weekend.

"This wasn't the prettiest win, but our team got the job done and that is the most important thing," head coach Patty Gasso said. "D. J. Mathis, Samantha Ricketts and Susan Ogden were really clutch for this team today."

The two teams evened the game up at 3-3 in the third inning and both offenses were stalled until the bottom of the seventh when the Sooners plated the winning run.

Haley Anderson led off the bottom of the seventh for the Sooners and walked to give the Sooners a base runner. Two outs later, Susan Ogden battled as she recorded a single on a 3-2 count and the 10th pitch of the at bat. With runners at the corners, Ricketts stepped to the plate and delivered the game-winner that scored Anderson and gave OU the win. Missouri center fielder Rhea Taylor made a great effort as she made a diving catch, but dropped the ball at the last second.

Junior pitcher D.J. Mathis picked up the win in relief as she replaced starter Lauren Eckermann with two outs in the third. The junior pitcher was solid as she retired every batter she faced, except for a dropped third strike on a batter. Mathis improved to 20-3 after allowing no hits, runs or walks in her 4.1 innings of work and striking out seven.

Eckermann allowed three hits and two earned runs in her 2.2 innings of action.

Offensively, sophomore left fielder continued highlight the offense as she went 2-for-4 while Ricketts went 2-for-3 with the games only two RBIs. Flores hit .714 against the Tigers in the series while Ricketts led the team with three RBI in the series.

Similar to what OU did in Saturday's game, the Tigers jumped out to the early lead in the top of the first. MU's Taylor started the rally as she led off the game with a single up the middle. Two outs later, Amanda Renth ripped her ninth home run of the year, a two-run shot to centerfield, as Missouri led 2-0 before the Sooners even had an at bat.

The Sooners cut the lead in the bottom of the first as Flores led off with a single. An out later, Ogden walked and a passed ball advanced both runners into scoring position. Ricketts earned the sacrifice RBI with her fly ball to centerfield that scored Flores and cut the lead to 2-1.

Oklahoma took the 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second as the Sooners loaded the bases after Long and Legendre were hit by a pitch and Wendy Trott singled on a dribbler to the pitcher. Freshman Haley Anderson stepped to the plate and ripped a two-RBI single up the middle. However, Anderson and Legendre were both picked off on the same play. Next, Flores and Huey recorded back-to-back singles, but OU couldn't score any more as Ogden struck out looking to end the frame.

Missouri answered right back in the top of the third as Taylor reached on an error by shortstop Long and scored on Julie Silver's RBI single up the middle to even it up at 3-3. Next, Jen Bruck walked and ended Eckermann's stay in the circle as Mathis entered the circle with two outs and a runner at first. Mathis retired the next batter as the Sooners headed to the bottom of the third.

Mathis was solid as she retired every batter she faced, but the Oklahoma offense was stalled until the bottom of the seventh when Ricketts delivered the game winner.

Next, Oklahoma heads to Fayetteville, Ark., for a doubleheader against the University of Arkansas on Monday. The first game of the twin bill is set for 4 p.m. with the second game set to begin at approximately 6 p.m.

The Sooners will return to Big 12 action on Thursday when it hosts Texas Tech in a doubleheader at the OU Softball Complex with the first game set to start at 5 p.m.

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