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May 18, 2008

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Oklahoma 11, Oregon 0 (6 Innings)   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E  Oklahoma 4 0 2 0 0 5 x 11 13 0  Oregon 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 0 2 2  Pitching IP H R ER BB SO  W - Mathis (30-5) 5 1 0 0 1 9  L - Cook (17-14)  2 7 6 2 0 1  Batting Leaders AB R H RBI BB TB  OU - Long 4 1 3 4 0 6  OU - Ogden   4 1 2 4 0 5 Sooner Softball Central Main Page | Ticket Information | Webcasts 2008 OU Softball Media Guide | 2008 Game Notes Oklahoma Season Statistics | Big 12 Conference | NCAA

NORMAN, Okla. --  The 10th-seeded Oklahoma softball team advanced to its third Super Regional in four years as the Sooners run ruled Oregon, 11-0, in six innings on Sunday afternoon in the regional final at the OU Softball Complex.  Oklahoma (46-12) notched three straight wins in the Norman Regional on its way to its eighth regional title in school history. 

The Sooners will now face No. 7-seeded Arizona next weekend in the Super Regional in Tucson, Ariz.  The dates and times will be determined later this evening as the Sooners could play a Friday-Saturday Super Regional or Saturday-Sunday Super Regional.

""This is a huge part in trying to accomplish our goal of making it to the College World Series," head coach Patty Gasso said. "I thought this was a great weekend for us. Everyone stepped up the way they needed to and answered the call.   I was very pleased with our efforts in the way we came out and attacked early and set the tone."

Oklahoma was clicking on all cylinders Sunday afternoon as the OU offense combined for 13 hits while the defense held the Ducks to only two hits.

After pitching 11 innings on Saturday, OU pitcher D.J. Mathis threw another gem as she earned the win after throwing five complete innings and only allowing one hit while striking out nine.  The junior lefty improved her overall record to 30-5 on the season and retired 15 of the 17 batters she faced. 

Senior Lauren Eckermann came in for relief of Mathis in the final inning and allowed one hit while striking out two to keep the shutout. 

Offensively, seniors Susan Ogden and Savannah Long took advantage of their final home game at the OU Softball Complex.  Long was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run while Ogden added four RBIs on a 2-for-4 outing and a grand slam.  Lindsey Vandever and Samantha Ricketts each added two hits apiece. 

The Sooners, the designated visiting team, came out hot as they plated four runs in the top of the first which included a Long three-run homer, her second home run in as many games.  Amber Flores led off the frame for the Sooners as she reached on catcher's interference.  Next, Krystle Huey reached on a single back to the pitcher.  Another out later, Ricketts' fielder's choice advanced Flores to third as the Sooners had corners at the corners.  Vandever put the Sooners on the board with her two-out RBI single to left.  Long followed that with her three-run shot that gave OU the early 4-0 lead after the top of the first. 

Oklahoma rallied again in the third as Ogden and Ricketts led off with back-to-back hits.  Vandever followed with her second RBI of the game as her bloop RBI single to right scored another run as OU led 5-0.  Following Vandever's single, Oregon replaced starter Alicia Cook with Melissa Rice.

Cook took the loss as she fell to 17-14 after giving up six runs, two of them earned, on seven hits in two innings of work. 

Rice faced Long as her first batter and the senior shortstop added her fourth RBI of the game as she ripped an RBI single to left to push the Sooner advantage to 6-0 after the top of the third.

Oklahoma poured it on in the sixth as the Sooners added five runs to earn the run-rule win.  The Sooners loaded the bases for pinch hitter Dani Dobbs, who was hit by a pitch and earned the RBI as the Sooners led 7-0.  Next, Ogden hammered a grand slam, her 12th home run of the season, as OU took the 11-0 lead.

Eckermann finished off the Ducks in the bottom of the sixth as the Sooners advanced to the Super Regional. 

Regional Notes:  Oklahoma is a perfect 18-0 at the OU Softball Complex in regional action (not Super Regional) ... Oklahoma is playing in its second consecutive Super Regional and third in the last four years ... The Sooners faced Arizona in the 2005 Super Regional in Tucson ... Susan Ogden extended her hitting streak to 12 games while Ricketts pushed her streak to 10 straight.x