Softball Stunned By Nebraska, 6-5

May 10, 2008

Nebraska 6, Oklahoma 5

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Nebraska	2	0	3	0	0	0	1	6	5	0
Oklahoma	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	8	2

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Hill (14-16)	7	8	5	5	7	4
L - Smith (3-3)	1.1	2	3	3	1	0

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	TB
OU - Ricketts	3	2	3	4	1	10
OU - Ogden	3	0	1	1	0	1

Sooner Softball Central

2008 OU Softball Media Guide

OKLAHOMA CITY - The No. 7 Oklahoma softball team was upset in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship as the Sooners fell to the Huskers, 6-5, on Saturday morning at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. It marked only the third time in the history of the Big 12 Championship that the Sooners dropped their first game of the tournament as they also did it in 2002 and 2005.

The Sooners fell to 43-12 while the Huskers improved to 24-27 overall. At the conclusion of OU's game, there had been four Big 12 Championship games played and the lower seed won every single one.

Oklahoma out hit the Huskers, but couldn't seem to find its rhythm in the pitching circle until late. OU senior Lauren Eckermann earned the start and only threw 1.2 innings while giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits.

Jadyn Smith relieved Eckermann, but only went 1.1 innings and gave up three earned runs on two hits. Smith took the loss and fell to 3-3 on the year.

Junior D.J. Mathis was solid in the final four innings of the game as she only allowed one hit and no earned runs while striking out five.

Offensively, the Sooners stranded 10 costly runners on base. However, Samantha Ricketts was a huge highlight for the Sooners as she ripped two home runs on a 3-for-3 performance with four RBI. Susan Ogden added the squad's only other RBI as she went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.

Oklahoma came into the contest as one of the 10 best fielding teams in the country, but two costly errors allowed two runs to score for the Huskers that also made a difference in the game.

Nebraska wasted no time getting on the board as Meghan Mullin led off the frame with a single through the left side. Next, Darcy Rutherford ripped a triple to right field that scored Mullin. Next, Crystal Carwile tried to lay down a squeeze bunt to score Rutherford, but Carwile didn't get the bunt down and Rutherford got caught in a rundown. However, OU catcher Lindsey Vandever overthrew third baseman Jessica Legendre and Rutherford scored on the error as NU took the 2-0 lead. Eckermann settled and retired the next three batters as OU was down 2-0 before it had its turn to bat in the bottom of the second.

The Sooners responded and took the lead in the bottom of the first as Krystle Huey reached on a fielder's choice and Ogden followed that with a single. Next, Ricketts ripped a three-run homer over the left field wall on a 2-2 count. Ricketts' pounded her 11th home run of the season to give OU the 3-2 lead after one.
With two outs in the top of the second and a runner at first, OU starter Eckermann was replaced by reliever Smith. The senior got Alex Hupp to fly out to centerfield to end the top of the second.

Nebraska took the lead right back in the top of the third as the Huskers put two runners on base as Rutherford walked and Carwile reached on a fielder's choice. Next, Ashley Guile doubled off the right field wall to score two runs. Next, Haley Long singled up the middle to score Guile and take the 5-3 lead. Smith settled and retired the next two batters.

Mathis entered the circle for the Sooners in the top of the fourth. Mathis showed why she finished the regular season with the best ERA in the Big 12 as she retired all three batters she faced.

Huey sparked the Sooners in the bottom of the fifth as she led off with triple off the centerfield wall. Ogden followed that with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Huey and cut the Nebraska lead to 5-4. Ricketts followed that with a double and Vandever walked and Long was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Oklahoma couldn't take advantage as designated player Chana'e Jones roped a line drive to NU third baseman Heidi Foland, who made the catch and got the double play at third to end the frame.

Whitney Barrett led off the seventh and notched a single up the middle as she was the first runner to reach base with Mathis pitching. Two outs later, Barrett was at third and OU catcher Vandever tried to pick her off, but overthrew third and Barrett scored to extend the lead to 6-4 and was eventually the game-winning run. Mathis struck out the next batter as the Sooners headed into the bottom of the seventh with one final chance.

The Sooners tried to rally in the seventh as Ricketts led off the frame with her second home run of the game, a solo shot over the centerfield fence that closed the gap at 6-5. Next, Vandever notched an infield single between the pitcher and first baseman and Long followed that with a single up the middle as the Sooners had runners at first and second and no outs. Jones grounded out to the first baseman, but both OU runners moved into scoring position. However, similar to the rest of the game the Sooners couldn't take advantage as the next two batters were retired to end the game.

Oklahoma will find out its postseason fate on Sunday at 9 p.m. as the NCAA Selection show will be held on ESPNU and the pairings and sites for the tournament will be announced.
xxx

Next Event

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics