OU Explodes for 27 Runs in Two Wins

March 9, 2012

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Indiana	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	1	1
Oklahoma	6	2	0	6	-	-	-	14	14	0

Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W- Ricketts (9-3)	5.0	1	0	0	2	8
L - Olson (6-7)	0.0	4	6	6	2	0
S - N/A	0.0	-	-	-	-	-

Leaders	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU- Chamberlain	3	2	3	7	0	2
IU- Gogreve	2	0	1	0	0	0

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NORMAN, Okla. -- The coaching staff of the No. 8 Oklahoma softball staff has stressed to its team lately to wait for the right pitch and take good swings. Friday afternoon against Wichita State (6-13), the Sooners did just that, with a 13-0 five-inning run rule victory over the Shockers. Friday night against Indiana (10-11), they did it again with a 14-0 five-inning run rule over the Hoosiers to move to 17-3 on the year.

The back-to-back run-rule victories marked the second time Oklahoma has shut down two straight opponents in five innings this season after doing the same to UC Davis and Boise State at the Cathedral City Classic.

The 27 runs were the most scored in two straight games since the 2011 Oklahoma squad put 30 runs across the plate in two games against Louisiana-Monroe and New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M. The two games are the two highest scoring games by Oklahoma this season while the 14 hits against Indiana marked a team season high.

“This was the best offensive explosion I've seen all season,” said OU Head Coach Patty Gasso. “Everybody was outstanding in their at bats and the great hitting was infectious.”

In the day's opening game against Wichita State, the Sooners connected for five home runs, the first time since doing so against No. 1 Washington on May 2007, 2010. OU collected 11 hits, the third time this season with at least 10 hits this season while recording the largest OU win since defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 15-0 on March 12, 2011. The five home runs were the most since Oklahoma hit six against Pacific on Feb. 23, 2008. One game later, OU knocked three out of the park. In all, five different Sooners hit home runs on the day.

Against Wichita State, the Sooners Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults led OU at the plate with two home runs each while Michelle Gascoigne moved to 7-0 on the year in the circle, striking out seven of the 14 batters she faced in four innings of work. Kirsten Allen replaced the junior in the circle for the final inning.

Lauren Chamberlain hit two home runs against Indiana as a part of her seven RBIs while fellow freshman Georgia Casey hit her second of the year. Ricketts moved to 9-3 on the year with her fourth one-hit game of the season. Ricketts struck out eight Hoosier bats in her sixth start without giving up a run. Five different Sooners had multiple hits in the game.

The Sooners got on the board early in the first against the Shockers as Shults and Ricketts hit back-to-back home runs to left and right field, respectively, with one out. The pair became the first Sooners to accomplish the feat since Chana'e Jones and Dani Dobbs went yard against Missouri State on March 13, 2011, in Norman.

OU added two more runs in the bottom of the second when Chamberlain led off with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a Brianna Turang single. An Ali Vandever grounder to short sent Chamberlain home and Turang to second before scoring on a throwing error by Shocker first baseman Sammie Shook that sent the ball to the left field fence.

Oklahoma was the model of consistency in the third as it added two runs to the board for the third straight inning. Ricketts became the first Sooner since Shults in 2011 to hit two home runs in the game as she sent 3-0 pitch over the centerfield fence for her second homer in as many at bats.

In the fourth inning, the Sooners exploded when Shults hit her second home run of the game, a two-run shot after Destinee Martinez had walked to start the inning. Ricketts followed with a walk before being replaced at first by Callie Parsons. Erica Sampson and Kelley Reeves both followed with walks before Chamberlain hit a sacrifice fly to deep right that scored Parsons while Sampson scored on the throw from right as Reeves advanced to third.

With Reeves on third, Katie Norris stepped to the plate and sent the fifth OU home run over the left field fence. Oklahoma loaded the bases in the inning before a Martinez single up the middle scored Vandever who had got on base via a walk.

Like they had against Wichita State, the Sooners wasted no time in getting on the board against Indiana as they erupted for six runs in the bottom of the first. Martinez led off the game with a walk before stealing second. After a Shults walk, Ricketts singled to score Martinez and send Shults to third.

After Ricketts stole second, Brittany Williams sent a single through the right side to score both Shults and Ricketts. The next batter, Chamberlain, hit her first of two homers of the game on the next at bat before Casey followed with a double through the left side. After an Indiana pitching change, Turang moved Casey to third with a sacrifice bunt. Reeves sent Casey home with an RBI grounder to short.

OU picked up two runs in the second after Shults and Ricketts hit back-to-back singles before each advancing a base on a passed ball by Indiana catcher Cassie Gogreve. A Chamberlain single on the next at bat sent both home as OU opened up an 8-0 lead after two innings.

After a scoreless third, OU resumed its scoring output as Ricketts led off with a single before being replaced on the base path by Parsons. A Williams single to right put runners on first and second for Chamberlain who hit her second home run of the game and the seventh of her freshman season. The next at bat saw Casey post OU's second back-to-back home run series of the day as she sent a shot over the walls of Marita Hynes Field.

Turang walked in the next at bat and was shifted to second on a Reeves grounder to short. A Norris RBI single to left brought in Turang. After Vandever replaced Norris on the base path, a Martinez grounder to short sent the sophomore to second before a Shults double scored Oklahoma's 14th and final run.

Saturday's schedule at the Courtyard by Marriott Norman Oklahoma Spring Festival has been adjusted with OU taking on Wichita State at 12:30 and Indiana at 2:30. Wichita State and Indiana play at 10:30 a.m.

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