OU Claims Two Victories to Start Weekend

Friday, March 16

Fullerton, Calif.

12:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

CSUN

OU Claims Two Victories to Start Weekend

March 16, 2018 | Softball

By: Andie Beene

CSUN

^5/5 Oklahoma

Box Score

Highlights

DePaul

^5/5 Oklahoma

Box Score

Highlights

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
OU	0	2	0	0	1	4	0	7	9	0
CSUN	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	1

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Parker (11-1)	5.0	2	0	0	0	8
L - Troost (3-8)	5.0	7	6	6	2	1

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Clifton	3	2	2	1	1	1
CSUN - Stevens	3	1	2	1	0	1

FULLERTON, Calif. – The No. 5/5 Oklahoma softball team opened the Easton Tournament on Friday with two wins, taking down Cal State Northridge 7-1 and DePaul 9-1 in five innings.

The Sooners moved to 21-2 on the season with the pair of victories and have now won 12 straight contests.

Junior Sydney Romero led OU at the plate on Friday, finishing the day with four hits and five RBIs. Through 23 games this season, Romero is currently batting .515. Additionally, she was one of four Sooners to homer on the day, joining Caleigh Clifton, Fale Aviu and Nicole Pendley.

In the opening game against CSUN, OU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. The Sooners loaded the bases as Pendley was hit by a pitch, Clifton drew a walk and Aviu reached on a fielder's choice. Kylie Lundberg pinch hit and delivered with an infield single to drive in Pendley. Then, Kelsey Arnold grounded out to third to allow Clifton to reach home.

The Sooners added another run in the fifth, started by a double to right field from Romero. Jocelyn Alo then singled up the middle, and Romero took advantage to reach home.

In the sixth inning, OU added four runs, sparked by back-to-back solo homers from Clifton and Aviu. Clifton's blast to left center was her fourth of the season, and Aviu's shot to right field was her first this year. Additionally, it marked the first time Sooners hit consecutive home runs since Nicole Mendes and Clifton did so on May 12, 2017 against Texas Tech.

With the bases loaded, a misplayed fly ball in right field allowed pinch runner Hannah Sparks to cross home plate. Raegan Rogers then reached on a fielder's choice that drove in Kelsey Arnold.

The Matadors' lone run came in the bottom of the seventh as Megan Stevens hit a solo home run to center field.

Seniors Paige Parker and Paige Lowary combined in the circle for Oklahoma. Parker moved to 11-1 on the season as she allowed two hits and no runs while striking out eight over 5.0 innings. Lowary closed the final two frames, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout.

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
OU	1	1	3	4	0	9	9	0
DPU	0	0	1	0	0	1	3	2

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Lopez (6-0)	3.0	3	1	1	1	4
L - Dalgarn (0-1)	3.0	6	5	5	3	2

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
OU - Romero	4	3	3	4	0	1
DPU - Cothern	2	1	1	1	0	1

Against DePaul, the Sooner offense was jump started by Romero and Pendley's homers. Romero drilled a solo home run to left in the first inning before Pendley hit a solo blast to right center in the second to give the Sooners a 2-0 advantage.

Romero's blast was her fourth this season while Pendley's shot marked her fifth this year.

OU added three runs in the top of the third. With two runners in scoring position, Romero ripped a double down the left field line to plate them both. She moved to third on a flyout and reached home as Aviu grounded out to second.

DePaul scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the third when Jessica Cothern hit a solo home run to left field.

The Sooners secured the run-rule win with four runs in the fourth. OU loaded the bases with no outs, and Romero delivered with an infield single that plated Sparks. The run marked Romero's fourth RBI of the game, matching a single-game career high.

Alo then drew a walk to allow Arnold to score before Aviu was hit by a pitch to bring in Clifton. Finally, Knighten reached on a fielder's choice that plated Romero.

Sophomore Mariah Lopez started in the circle for OU, moving to 6-0 on the year while surrendering one run on three hits with four strikeouts over 3.0 innings. Lopez walked one batter, her first walk of the season. Classmate Parker Conrad tossed the final 2.0 innings, allowing no hits or runs while striking out two.

The run-rule victory was OU's eighth of the season.

The Sooners continue the Easton Tournament on Saturday as they take on RV/NR Nebraska at 12:30 p.m. CT.