Sooners Softball Splits Doubleheader with Northridge
The 11th-ranked University of Oklahoma softball team split a doubleheader with Cal State Northridge on Wednesday afternoon at Matador Diamond. The Sooners (22-4) fell in the first game 1-0 and rallied back to score three runs in the top of the eighth to win the second, 4-1. The Matadors fell to 13-14 on the year.
Oklahoma begins play at the Judi Garman Classic on Thursday in Fullerton. The Sooners take on Utah in the opening game at 3:30 pm CT. Live stats are available at SoonerSports.com.
Game 2: Oklahoma 4, Cal State Northridge 1 (8 innings)
Amber Flores got OU up early in the second game with a solo home run to right field in the top of the first. It was Flores’ 48th career home run, tying Samantha Ricketts atop the OU career list. The Matadors loaded the bases in the bottom half on a single, fielder’s choice and walk but OU got out of the jam when Jaclyn Rymer grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Northridge tied the game in the bottom of the third on an double by Jaci Carlsen. The Sooners tried to answer in the top of the fourth. Lindsey Vandever singled up the middle and advanced to third on Chana’e Jones’ single down the right field line. Jones moved to second on a ground out before Vandever was thrown out at home on a Katie Norris fielder’s choice. With two outs, pinch hitter Wendy Trott drew a walk to load the bases but OU left the bases juiced to end the frame.
Vandever got on base in the sixth with a single down the left field line and pinch runner Evan Sallis moved to third before being left there to end the inning. The Matadors loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half but the lead runner was thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch.
After the seventh inning was scoreless, the Sooners got a break in the top of the eighth. Flores reached on a dropped fly ball and scored on a single by Jessica Shults to give OU a 2-1 advantage. Vandever and Jones delivered back-to-back singles as pinch runner Krystle Huey scored on the Jones hit. Dani Dobbs came through with a single to left center to bring home Vandever before the inning ended.
After allowing the leadoff runner to reach on a walk in the bottom half of the eighth, Oklahoma retired the next three batters to end the game.
Vandever led OU, going 3-for-4. Jones went 2-for-3 with a run driven in. Flores scored two runs.
Game 1: Oklahoma 0, Cal State Northridge 1
Both teams went down in order in the first inning and the Sooners threatened in the second. Jones had a single to left center and Ricketts walked but both runners were stranded on base to end the inning.
Ricketts reached on another walk in the fourth. Pinch runner Sallis stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch but was left on base to end the frame. Flores was hit by a pitch in the top of the sixth but was caught stealing to end the inning.
Northridge recorded the game’s only run in the bottom half of the sixth on a solo home run by Kristen Mihm. Trailing 1-0 and down to the final three outs, Shults drew a full count walk to lead off the seventh. Pinch runner Huey advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vandever and moved to third on Jones’ single to left. Both runners were stranded on to end the game.
Jones ended the first game 2-for-3, collecting Oklahoma’s only hits in the contest. Ricketts threw a complete game, falling to 12-4 on the year. Ricketts allowed the one run on two hits. She walked one and struck out nine.
Updated 03-18-2010
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