Hot Start Fuels Softball's Shutout Win

Saturday, February 20

Las Cruces, N.M.

2:30 PM

University of Oklahoma

Western Michigan

Hot Start Fuels Softball's Shutout Win

February 20, 2016 | Softball

By: Karl Anderson

Western Michigan

^14/10 Oklahoma

Box Score

Audio Highlights

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
OU	8	0	1	1	2	x	x	12	14	0
WMU	0	0	0	0	0	x	x	0	5	1

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Finney (1-0)	3.2	3	0	0	0	5
L - Binkowski (0-1)	0.2	7	8	8	1	0
S - N/A	-	-	-	-	-	-

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Knighten	2	2	2	2	2	1
WMU - Cichocki	2	0	2	0	0	0

Game Notes
Oklahoma now trails the all-time series against Western Michigan, 4-3, but has won three straight in the series ... the win was the third shutout of the season for OU and it's third via run-rule ... Oklahoma tied season highs in runs (12) and hits (14) ... during their current six-game win streak, the Sooners have outscored opponents 60-7 ... OU's eight-run first inning was its highest scoring inning since plating eight runs in the fourth inning vs. Utah Valley on May 3, 2015, and its most runs in the first inning since scoring 11 vs. Iowa last year (3/14) ... in her first start, freshman pitcher Brittany Finney recorded the first win and first five strikeouts of her career ... freshman Caleigh Clifton made the first start of her career in left field; she had started the previous six games at second base

Game Notes

Oklahoma now trails the all-time series against Western Michigan, 4-3, but has won three straight in the series ... the win was the third shutout of the season for OU and it's third via run-rule ... Oklahoma tied season highs in runs (12) and hits (14) ... during their current six-game win streak, the Sooners have outscored opponents 60-7 ... OU's eight-run first inning was its highest scoring inning since plating eight runs in the fourth inning vs. Utah Valley on May 3, 2015, and its most runs in the first inning since scoring 11 vs. Iowa last year (3/14) ... in her first start, freshman pitcher Brittany Finney recorded the first win and first five strikeouts of her career ... freshman Caleigh Clifton made the first start of her career in left field; she had started the previous six games at second base

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The offense matched a season high in runs and hits while a pair of freshmen combined for a shutout as No. 14/10 Oklahoma (6-2) posted its second run-rule win in a row with a 12-0, five-inning win over Western Michigan (1-3) Saturday afternoon at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.

Five different Sooners had at least two hits, while the same number at had least two runs driven in. The win was the sixth in a row for the Sooners and their third via run-rule this year. During the six-game win streak, OU has outscored opponents 60-7 and has a .407 batting average.

In the circle, freshmen Brittany Finney and Jayden Chestnut combined to throw the team's third shutout of the season.

Finney made her first career start and earned her first career win. She threw the first 3.2 innings and allowed three hits and no walks while recording the first five strikeouts of her young career. Chestnut then came on in relief to close out the game. She struck out one with two hits allowed in 1.1 innings of work.

Oklahoma wasted little time jumping on Western Michigan, scoring eight runs in the first inning. The Sooners have now outscored teams 21-0 in the first inning through eight games this year. It was the team's highest scoring inning since plating eight runs in the fourth inning vs. Utah Valley on May 3, 2015, and its most runs in the first inning since scoring 11 vs. Iowa last year (3/14).

With one out, freshman Shay Knighten drew a four-pitch walk and moved to second after a bunt single by senior Erin Miller. Freshman Fale Aviu cleared the bases and gave OU a 2-0 lead when she doubled to right center. After a single by senior Kady Self, sophomore Nicole Pendley singled up the middle to load the bases.

Sophomore Lea Wodach doubled OU's lead to 4-0 when she double to left field, while freshman Caleigh Clifton collected OU's third two-run hit of the inning when she singled up the middle to extend the lead to 6-0. Later in the inning, freshman Sydney Romero hit another RBI double before Knighten tallied her first hit of the game with a run-scoring single up the middle, pushing the lead to 8-0.

Knighten continued her torrid hitting with her second home run in as many games when her drive to right center hit off the top of the wall and landed on the other side. In her past two games, she's 5-6 (.833) with five runs scored, two home runs, one double, seven RBI, two walks and a stolen base. She also has a .875 on-base percentage and 2.000 slugging percentage in those games.

Western Michigan's best chance to score came in the third when Anissa Sanchez doubled with one out and took third on a groundout. Finney kept the Broncos scoreless though when she struck out the next batter to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, Aviu singled, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by pinch hitter Paris Townsend. Pendley then made it 10-0 for the Sooners when she reached on an infield single.

Oklahoma tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth to match the 12-run output it had against Lamar on Feb. 13.

Sophomore Paige Parker pinch hit and drew a four-pitch walk and Romero followed with a triple to left center. After a walk to Knighten, pinch hitter Tori Nirschl sent a sacrifice fly to right field to bring across the game's final run.