Upcoming Event: Softball versus Oklahoma Christian on October 15, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

February 19, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 19, 2009
2009 Cathedral City Classic |
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Dates | Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22 |
Friday |
vs. Cal Poly at 8 p.m. CT vs. #3/7 Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. CT |
Saturday |
vs. 17/19 Nevada at 3 p.m. CT |
Sunday | vs. #24/15 Massachusetts at 10 a.m. CT |
Game Info |
Live Stats | Oklahoma Game Notes |
SOONER REWIND: RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY
Oklahoma traveled to Houston to participate in the 2009 Houston Marriott Classic last weekend. The Sooners were scheduled to play five contests and due to inclement weather, only played three. OU dropped the opening contest to N.C. State, 2-1 and rebounded to take down No. 14 Houston, 5-3 and Texas State 3-2. Junior Lindsey Vandever (Davenport, Okla.) led OU at the plate with a 3-for-8 tally on the weekend. Freshman pitcher Allee Allen (Buena Park, Calif.) picked up her first career win.
SOONER REWIND: WELCOME HOME
On Wednesday, the Sooners opened at home with a doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin. The first game of the twinbill took eight innings and saw OU prevail, 4-3. The Sooners took the second game 3-1. Senior Samantha Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) led the way for OU at the plate, going 4-for-7 (.571). With two RBI on the night, Ricketts tied Ashli Barrett (1998-2001) for the most RBI in school history. Freshman Evan Sallis (Muskogee, Okla.) scored two runs on a 1-for-2 afternoon.
SOONERS/MUSTANGS SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Oklahoma leads 3-0
In San Luis Obispo: Never Met
In Norman: Never Met
At Neutral Sites: Oklahoma leads 3-0
Oklahoma's Series Streak: Won 3
First Meeting: Feb. 25, 2006 (W 5-2 in Palm Springs, Calif.)
Last Meeting: March 14, 2008 (W 5-4 [8] in Sacramento, Calif.)
SCOUTING CAL POLY
The Mustangs take on two ranked opponents at the Cathedral City Classic and look to post the program's first victories against three teams. Since transitioning to the Division I level in 1995, Cal Poly has dropped all three series meetings with Oklahoma. Cal Poly has also lost both of its games against Tennessee and never met Georgia. Senior shortstop Melissa Pura is a two-time All-Big West Conference first team honoree and Cal Poly's career leader for home runs (28), RBI (109) and slugging percentage (.595).
SOONERS/SUN DEVILS SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Arizona State leads 10-8
In Tempe: Oklahoma leads 2-1
In Norman: Arizona leads 4-0
At Neutral Sites: Oklahoma leads 7-4
Oklahoma's Series Streak: Won 5
First Meeting: March 15, 1979 (L 0-3 in Tempe, Ariz.)
Last Meeting: March 17, 2005 (W 6-1 in Fullerton, Calif.)
SCOUTING NO. 3/7 ARIZONA STATE
Arizona State hits the road for the first time this season. The Sun Devils are led by the 2009 NPF top pick Kaitlin Cochran. Cochran is hitting .500 with five home runs on the season. Hillary Bach has a 6-0 record and 1.04 ERA for ASU, while Megan Ellsworth has a 3-0 record and 1.21 ERA. Oklahoma is the first ranked opponent Arizona State has faced this season.
SOONERS/WOLF PACK SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Oklahoma leads 1-0
In Reno: Never Met
In Norman: Never Met
At Neutral Sites: Oklahoma leads 1-0
Oklahoma's Series Streak: Won 1
First Meeting: Feb. 9, 2008 (W 1-0 in Fullerton, Calif.)
Last Meeting: Feb. 9, 2008 (W 1-0 in Fullerton, Calif.)
SCOUTING NO. 17/19 NEVADA
No. 17/19 Nevada is 7-2 on the season after beating Utah, Southern Utah, Portland State and UNLV at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. Second baseman KymSilagyi became Nevada's all-time hits leader with an infield single against Louisville (181). Junior pitcher Katie Holverson is the reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week after going 2-1 with a 0.00 earned-run average and striking out 16 in 17 innings. The Wolf Pack returned 13 letterwinners from last year. Topping the list of returnees is sophomore catcher Noelle Micka, a second-team NFCA All-American in 2008; junior pitcher Katie Holverson, a second-team NFCA All-West Region honoree in 2008; and senior outfielder Brittany Puzey, an honorable mention NFCA All-West Region selection in 2007.
SOONERS/CRIMSON TIDE SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Alabama leads 3-2
In Tuscaloosa: Never Met
In Norman: Never Met
At Neutral Sites: Alabama leads 3-2
Oklahoma's Series Streak: Lost 2
First Meeting: Feb. 15, 1997 (W 12-0 in Houston, Texas)
Last Meeting: March 16, 2006 (L 0-5 in Fullerton, Calif.)
SCOUTING NO. 1 ALABAMA
Top-ranked Alabama rolled off four straight wins to secure the BAMA Bash team title, its second tournament title in as many weekends. The Crimson Tide opened play by defeating Notre Dame 10-1 and then 10-0 to start day two. UA then handed Wisconsin an 8-0 loss and then capped off tournament play with an 8-0 win against East Carolina. All four wins were by the way of the mercy rule. Lauren Parker was named the BAMA Bash MVP after batting .583 (7-for-12) with four RBI. In the circle, sophomore Kelsi Dunne earned two wins without allowing an earned run.
SOONERS/MINUTEWOMEN SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Oklahoma leads 5-3
In Amherst: Series tied 2-2
In Norman: Never Met
At Neutral Sites: Oklahoma leads 3-1
Oklahoma's Series Streak: Won 5
First Meeting: March 18, 1989 (L 2-3 in San Jose, Calif.)
Last Meeting: May 20, 2007 (W 6-2 in Amherst, Mass.)
SCOUTING NO. 23/24 UMASS
UMass opened the season at the FAU Kickoff Classic with an 8-3 victory over Maryland. That was followed by a 6-1 loss to the host Florida Atlantic Owls. On the second day, the Minutewomen defeated Long Island, 8-0 and edged out Pittsburgh, 2-1. The tournament closed with a 1-0 upset victory over #5 Michigan.
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RICKETTS SEEKING OUTRIGHT CAREER RBI RECORD
With 190 career RBI, senior Samantha Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) needs to drive in one more run to become the Oklahoma career leader in RBI. Ricketts is seven home runs shy of the career record in that category.
MATHIS, RICKETTS TAKEN IN NPF DRAFT
Senior pitcher D.J. Mathis (East Alton, Ill.) and senior infielder Samantha Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) were selected by the Akron Racers in the 2009 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft. Mathis went second overall, while Ricketts was the second pick in the third round, going 12th overall. Oklahoma was one of four schools with two players taken. Brette Reagan of Baylor and Micaela Minner of Missouri were the only other Big 12 players drafted. Oklahoma has now had 13 players drafted to the NPF league since its inaugural draft prior to the 2004 season. The 2009 draftees join Sooner alums Savannah Long, Susan Ogden, Lauren Eckermann, Norrelle Dickson, Heather Scaglione, Kami Keiter, Christina Enea, Erin Evans, Christy Ring, Leah Gulla and Kristin Vesely who were all drafted by the league. Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete may not sign with her respective franchise until their 2009 college season is over.
FLORES EARNS BIG 12, NATIONAL AWARDS
For her MVP performance at the Hawai'i Paradise Classic, junior shortstop Amber Flores (Calexico, Calif) was named Big 12 Player of the Week, Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I Player of the Week and Co-Player of the Week by USA Softball on Tuesday, Feb. 10. It is the first time an OU softball athlete has earned both national honors in the same week. Flores hit .643 over a five-game span. Flores was 9-for-14 with nine runs scored and drove in 15 runs. Of her nine hits, two were doubles and three were home runs. Flores posted a slugging percentage of 1.429 and an on-base percentage of .737. She totaled 20 bases on the weekend, along with three walks and two hit-by-pitches. In OU's 18-0 win over UAB, Flores tied the OU school record with eight RBI in a single game. In the first inning, she drove in two runs on a double and later in the inning, cleared the bases with her three-run shot. She added a second three-run home run later in the contest.
OPENING STATEMENT
Freshman DP Katie Norris (Stillwater, Okla.) set the tone for her 2009 season at the Hawai'i Paradise Classic. Norris hit .462 with six hits and three runs scored. Norris drove in four runs and hit a double and a home run on the weekend.
DOBBS GETS FIRST CAREER HOME RUN
Dani Dobbs' (Moore, Okla.) three-run blast against UAB was the sophomore's first career home run. Dobbs was named to the Hawai'i Paradise Classic all-tournament team after hitting .571 and posting a 1.143 slugging percentage.
THE PREVIEW PRESENTED BY WORTH
The Sooners will co-host The Preview presented by Worth March 6-8 in Norman and Oklahoma City. In conjunction with the ASA and Hall of Fame Stadium, the event will bring together three of the nation's premier programs. On Friday night in Norman, the Sooners will take on Tennessee. The tournament shifts to Hall of Fame Stadium for the final two days as Northwestern, Tennessee and OU participate in the double round robin event. Tickets are on sale now at www.SoftballOutlet.com.
FLORES, RICKETTS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
A pair of University of Oklahoma softball athletes have been named Preseason All-Americans by ESPN. Junior Amber Flores (Calexico, Calif.) earned first team honors, while senior Samantha Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) was named to the second team. Writer Graham Hays says of Flores, “Whether at second base, outfield or designated player, Flores makes herself a lineup cornerstone with one of the best bats in the game. Both patient enough in her own approach and feared enough by opponents to draw a program single-season record 45 walks last season, she still did enough with the pitches she saw to hit .381 with 15 home runs. Only a junior, it's scary to think how good Flores could be.”
MATHIS, RICKETTS NAMED TO POY WATCH LIST
Oklahoma seniors D.J. Mathis (East Alton, Ill.) and Samantha Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) have been named to the 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. Both are All-Americans and Ricketts was a top three finalist in 2007.
RICKETTS NAMED TEAM CAPTAIN
Senior Samantha Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) was elected team captain for the 2009 season. The team selected the captain based on characteristics such as work ethic, positive attitude and consistency both on and off the field.
OKLAHOMA, ARIZONA RANKED IN EVERY NFCA POLL
The Sooners have been ranked in the NFCA poll since its inception, which spans 194 weeks. Oklahoma and Arizona are the only programs who have been ranked every week the poll has been released.
SOONERS UNANIMOUS SELECTION TO WIN BIG 12 TITLE
The Sooners 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.
Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll
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Rank
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Team(first-place votes) |
Points
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1 | OKLAHOMA (9) |
81 |
2 | Missouri |
68 |
3 | Texas A&M (1) |
60 |
4 | Texas | 58 |
5 | Nebraska |
46 |
6 | Baylor | 44 |
7 | Oklahoma State |
40 |
8 | Kansas | 25 |
9 | Texas Tech |
15 |
10 |
Iowa State |
13 |
SOONERS RETURN 10 LETTERWINNERS
Oklahoma returns 10 letterwinners from last season's 47-14, NCAA Super Regional team. The Sooners have six position players returning and pitcher D.J. Mathis. Three All-Americans in Mathis, Samantha Ricketts and Amber Flores return along with four All-Midwest Region selections in Mathis, Ricketts, Flores and Lindsey Vandever.