Sooners get all they want, crush Texas

By Jeff Johncox
The Norman Transcript

April 27, 2008 01:39 am

— Oklahoma players, coaches and fans couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Not only did the Sooners beat Red River rival Texas Saturday at Marita Hynes Field, but they pounded the Longhorns 8-0 for a six-inning run rule.
OU scored seven runs in the first two innings and pitcher D.J. Mathis was almost untouchable as the Sooners improved to 40-11 on the season, 13-2 in Big 12 play.
“That’s championship softball right there,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “Coming out in a big game like this and scoring three runs right away and having more opportunities to score more early … We just kept finding ways to get runners on base.”
The OU bats got started against Texas hurler Meagan Denny right from the beginning.
After Amber Flores and Krystle Huey walked, Susan Ogden took her first pitch from Denny over the left-field wall. All of a sudden, OU was up 3-0 and Denny was flustered.
“I was just looking for a way to score them,” Ogden said. “The first pitch she threw me just looked so fat.”
The Sooners scored four more in the second inning. OU catcher Lindsey Vandever hit a three-run home run of her own to make it a seven-run difference.
Savannah Long scored on a throwing error to home plate when Texas reliever Brittany Barnhill got in front of catcher Kacie Gaskin and the ball went to the backstop.
“You can’t feel pressure as a pitcher being out there with a seven-run lead,” Mathis said. “You can’t ask for anything more from our team.”
OU had several other opportunities to score against Barnhill, but finally got the run rule in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Vandever led off with a single, and Dani Dobbs came in to pinch run. Long singled for her third hit of the day and Wendy Trott moved them over with a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Jessica Legendre then ended things with a base hit to left field.
Vandever was 3-for-4 on the day and she and Ogden each drove in three runs and scored once. Krystle Huey was 0-for-2, but had a sacrifice hit and scored twice.
Flores was pitched around all game, walking four times and scoring once.
“Whether it’s Flores walking four times or someone knocking one off the wall, however we can find ways to get people on base and get opportunities to score, that’s what we want to do,” Gasso said.
As hard as the Sooners hit Denny and Barnhill, it was still Mathis’ game.
The junior left-hander struck out eight Longhorns and allowed just two baserunners while improving to 25-5 on the season. She also had a perfect game through five innings.
“You can put anyone out there on the mound, Jadyn (Smith), Lauren (Eckermann) or D.J., and they’re going to dominate,” OU catcher Lindsey Vandever said. “They have this little swagger to them right now. They know they’re going to dominate the other team no matter what. It makes me more confident in every pitch I’m going to call.”
OU will start Eckermann today at noon when the Sooners play their home finale.
Jeff Johncox
366-3535
jjohncox@normantranscript.com

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