Softball Rallies Back to Down DePaul, 4-3

March 17, 2011

Notre Dame 2, Oklahoma 1
Box Score: PDF | HTML

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

Pitching	IP	H	R	E	BB	SO
W - Ricketts (13-3)	8.0	6	3	2	1	17
L - Dean (2-2)	4.0	1	1	0	3	5

Batting Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	EB
OU - Dobbs	4	1	1	2	0	1
OU - Jones	2	1	2	0	2	0

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FULLERTON, Calif. - After seeing a three-run lead diminish late in the game, the ninth-ranked University of Oklahoma softball team scored in the top of the eighth to down DePaul 4-3 in eight innings Thursday morning. Keilani Ricketts (13-3) struck out a career-high 17 and allowed just two earned runs as the Sooners moved to 23-6 on the year. DePaul fell to 15-3.

OU scored in the top of the first inning as Brianna Turang walked, moved to second on a stolen base and advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on one of many illegal pitches called early in the game.

Chana'e Jones reached on a leadoff walk in the second and advanced to second on an obstruction call but was left stranded on base to end the frame. Jessica Shults and Brittany Williams drew back-to-back walks in the third but neither was able to score as OU led 1-0 through three.

Jones singled to lead off the fourth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Haley McGregor. Jones then scored on Dani Dobbs' third home run of the year to put OU up 3-0.

The Blue Demons got one run back in the fifth with a lead off solo home run by Maria Mathews. DePaul added a single run in the sixth as Katelyn Braget scored on a throwing error to trim the lead to 3-2.

DePaul then tied the game in the bottom of the seventh as Mathews reached after being hit by a pitch and pinch hitter Samantha Morgan reached on an error. A single from Alex Morocco scored pinch runner Sharah Shizas to force the extra inning.

With the international tiebreaker in effect, Shults was placed on second to start the eighth. Shults moved to third on a groundout and Ricketts and Jones reached on back-to-back walks. Pinch hitter Cierra Hughes reached on a fielder's choice that scored Shults for the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the inning, Kirsten Verdun was placed on second for the Blue Demons, but Ricketts shut down DePaul with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to end the game.

Jones ended the game 2-for-2 with two walks and one run scored. Dobbs' only hit was the two-run home run. Shults and Williams also drew two walks each.

Morocco ended the game 3-for-4 with one RBI for DePaul. Dodd went 2-for-4, and Mathews went 1-for-2 with the solo home run.

Lindsey Dean (2-2) pitched 4.0 innings in relief, picking up the loss. Dean allowed one unearned run on one hit and three walks. She struck out five. Bree Brown started the game, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing three earned runs on two hits and six walks. Brown struck out four.

Oklahoma returns to action this afternoon against No. 7 Arizona at approximately 5:30 p.m. CT. Live stats are available at SoonerSports.com.