OU Concludes Road Swing at North Texas

April 25 | Denton, Texas | Lovelace Stadium

North Texas

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NORMAN — No. 3/3 Oklahoma softball (41-3, 12-0 Big 12) concludes its final stretch of regular-season non-conference play on Wednesday as it travels to Denton, Texas, to face North Texas (22-23, 8-9 Conference USA) at 6 p.m. CT.

The Sooners have never lost to the Mean Green, holding a 29-0 all-time record, including a 9-0 mark in Denton. Additionally, the 29-game win streak is OU's third longest against a Division I opponent.

The contest will be streamed on C-USA TV for premium subscribers. Additionally, it can be heard on the air via KEBC 1560 AM or online through the Franchise 2.

Wednesday's game is sold out, and fans traveling to Denton are encouraged to arrive early. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m.

Program-Best Start

With a 41-3 record this season, the 2018 Sooners have matched the 2013 squad for the best 44-game start in program history. The 2013 team was 57-4 on the year as it claimed the program's second national championship.

The Sooners' win at Tulsa on April 17 put OU at 39-2 on the season, marking the best two-loss start in program history. Additionally, OU's victory at Oregon State on April 20 was its 40th win, matching the 2013 team as the fastest to reach 40 wins in program history.

OU has opened Big 12 play 12-0 with four consecutive series sweeps, marking the Sooners' best conference start in program history. The previous best was 10-0 by the 2017 team.

The Sooners were undefeated in the month of March. OU's offense posted a slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) of .344/.447/.575 in March while holding opponents to .143/.200/.196, outscoring foes 172-15. The Sooner pitching staff combined for an ERA of 0.76 with 153 total strikeouts.

Under 24th-year head coach Patty Gasso, the Sooners have only gone undefeated throughout an entire month four times, excluding June. The feat was also accomplished in May 2016, February 2013, February 2007 and April 2001.

Three Sooners Selected in NPF Draft

Oklahoma softball seniors Paige Lowary, Paige Parker and Nicole Pendley were all selected in the first two rounds of the National Pro Fastpitch League Draft on Monday night.

The Chicago Bandits selected Lowary with the No. 1 overall pick, making her the second player in Oklahoma history to be taken first in the draft. Lauren Chamberlain was also selected first in 2015.

Parker and Pendley were both drafted by the USSSA Pride. Parker joined Lowary in the first round, coming in as the No. 6 pick, while Pendley was selected No. 12 overall.

Three selections in the draft matches the second-most in one year in OU program history, also achieved in 2008. In 2013, four Sooners were drafted.

The 2018 draftees join Sooner alumni Lauren Chamberlain, Shelby Pendley, Keilani Ricketts, Jessica Shults, Michelle Gascoigne, Brianna Turang, Amber Flores, Samantha Ricketts, D.J. Mathis, Savannah Long, Susan Ogden, Lauren Eckermann, Norrelle Dickson, Heather Scaglione, Kami Keiter, Christina Enea, Erin Evans, Christy Ring, Leah Gulla and Kristin Vesely who were all drafted by the league.

The NPF College Draft featured three rounds of six selections and one round of five picks for a total of 23 overall draftees in the 2018 rookie class.

Drafting an athlete gives an NPF affiliate team rights to that athlete for two full seasons.Due to NCAA regulations, an active college senior-athlete may not sign with her respective franchise until their 2018 college season is over.

Road Warriors

The Sooners are 11-1 in true road games this season, with their only loss coming at then-No. 4/4 Oregon on April 19, 5-0.

So far this season, OU has outscored opponents 67-11 in road contests with seven shutouts and three run rules.

The Sooners have slashed (AVG/OBP/SLG) .261/.376/.422 over 12 away games, recording 26 extra-base hits with 13 doubles and 13 home runs.

The OU pitching staff has allowed just ten earned runs in away games this season, combining for an ERA of 0.85 over 82.0 innings. It is currently holding opponents to a .185 batting average.

Wednesday's game at North Texas wraps up a five-game road swing for the Sooners. So far, OU is 3-1 with shutout wins against Tulsa and Oregon State twice and a loss at Oregon.

Last Time Out

Oklahoma opened its final swing of regular-season non-conference games last week, traveling to Tulsa, Oregon and Oregon State and finishing the week 3-1.

On Tuesday, Mariah Lopez and Paige Lowary combined on a three-hit shutout as Jocelyn Alo's solo home run proved the difference maker in OU's 1-0 road win over Tulsa.

The Sooners suffered their third loss of the season on Thursday, dropping a 5-0 contest at No. 4/4 Oregon. Alo registered the Sooners' only hit of the game in the fourth inning.

Oklahoma bounced back with a pair of wins at RV/RV Oregon State on Friday and Saturday. In game one, the Sooners claimed a 4-0 victory. Kelsey Arnold opened scoring with an RBI-single up the middle that plated Nicole Pendley. Alo tallied her 20th homer of the season, a two-run shot to right, and Caleigh Clifton scored on an error to clinch the win.

OU claimed the series with an 8-0 run-rule win in six innings on Saturday. Fale Aviu and Pendley led the Sooners at the plate, both finishing the day 2-for-3 while Aviu drove in three runs. Clifton also had a multi-RBI performance, bringing in two runs with a 1-for-3 game and scoring two. Freshman Alexa Schultz recorded her first collegiate hit in dramatic fashion, drilling a solo home run to direct center.

Facing North Texas

The Sooners have never lost to the Mean Green, holding a 29-0 record in all-time contests. OU has won nine of those games in Denton.

The 29-game winning streak is Oklahoma's third longest against a Division I opponent. The Sooners' only longer streaks are against Wichita State (35) and Iowa State (33).

Last year, the two teams met in Norman after conditions in Denton rendered the field unplayable, and Oklahoma claimed an 8-0 run-rule win in six innings. Ten Sooners combined for 16 hits while pitchers Mariah Lopez, Nicole Mendes and Paige Lowary combined on the shutout.

The two programs last met in Denton in 2015. The Sooners claimed a 6-2 victory, led by then-senior Lauren Chamberlain's go-ahead grand slam. The home run was the 91st of her career, setting the NCAA record for career home runs. Chamberlain would go on to finish her record-breaking career with 95 homers.

Up Next

The Sooners return to Marita Hynes Field this weekend as they host Texas in a three-game conference series. Texas is currently No. 3 in Big 12 standings.

OU leads the all-time series with Texas 38-24. All three games of the series are sold out.