Sooners Sixth in USA Softball Poll

Jan. 27, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma softball team begins the 2009 season ranked sixth in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. Florida was the overall top choice, followed by Alabama and defending national champion Arizona State. UCLA and Michigan closed out the top five. Oklahoma was selected 10th in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25.

Oklahoma returns seven starters from last season's 47-14 squad that finished 16-2 in the Big 12. The team took second in conference play and went on to advance to an NCAA Super Regional. OU received nine of 10 first-place votes and tallied 81 points to receive top billing in the 2009 Big 12 coaches' preseason poll. The selection the first time the Sooners were chosen a unanimous selection to win the league title since 2000, when OU won its first National Championship.

The Sooners return three All-Americans in seniors Samantha Ricketts and D.J. Mathis and junior Amber Flores. The trio, along with junior catcher Lindsey Vandever, also earned first team All-Midwest Region honors and All-Big 12 first team accolades a year ago. Oklahoma welcomes six newcomers, including pitchers Allee Allen (Buena Vista, Calif.) and Kirsten Allen (Union, Ky.) and Oklahoma products Katie Norris (Stillwater), Evan Sallis (Muskogee), Samantha Bachman (Midwest City) and Karolyne Long (Midwest City). Long is the younger sister of former OU All-American Savannah Long.

Oklahoma begins the 2009 campaign Feb. 5-7 at the Hawai'i Paradise Classic in Honolulu. The Sooners open at home on Feb. 18, hosting Stephen F. Austin in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at the OU Softball Complex.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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