University of Oklahoma Athletics
March 07, 2010 | Softball
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Box Score
It was the second straight win for the Sooners over the Cardinals after OU notched a 10-2 victory Saturday in Oklahoma City.
Gascoigne, who also got home run support from Haley Nix and Dani Dobbs, gave up just a pair of singles, one in the first and another in the fifth, while moving her record to 2-0.
The freshman struck out six and walked none.
“The beauty of this game was Michelle,” said OU Head Coach Patty Gasso. “Michelle took the reins. Louisville is a good hitting team. She handled them extremely well.”
Gascoigne had thrown just 10 and two-thirds inning prior to Sunday's start and had not been in the circle since the Feb. 26 game against Washington.
“I felt a lot more confident,” she admitted. “I was getting ahead of batters, working my pitches and moving the ball.”
Oklahoma (15-3) broke through in the third when Haley Nix belted a one-out home run to put the Sooners up 1-0. Nix has homered in three of the last four games, including both contests against Louisville, and has six for the season.
In the fifth, the Sooners mounted a four-run uprising. The first two batters were on after Katie Norris singled and Dobbs reached on an error. Two outs later, Amber Flores drew a walk to load the bases, then Jessica Shults walked to force in Norris.
Lindsey Vandever followed with a bases-clearing double to the right field gap to increase the advantage to 5-0.
In the seventh, Karolyne Long led off with a single then scored one out later on Dobbs' first hit and first home run of the season.
“I was like, 'Hey, I have an average,'” said a relieved Dobbs, who had gone hitless in her first 12 at-bats of the season. “It felt really good. The pitch was there.”
Tori Collins (5-2) suffered the loss for Louisville as the Cardinals fell to 14-5. She struck out five and walked four.
Oklahoma returns to action Wednesday when it hosts North Texas. The first pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 24
Saturday, May 23
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
