OU softball finishes second, again

May 01, 2008 12:56 am

— • Despite sweep at Baylor, OU ends up behind A&M in Big 12
Transcript Staff
WACO, Texas — Its best efforts notwithstanding, Oklahoma will once again head into the Big 12 tournament next week in Oklahoma City as the conference bridesmaid.
The Sooners downed Baylor twice Wednesday, 4-0 and 9-4, to finish the Big 12 regular-season schedule off. But before the nightcap could even begin, Texas A&M had defeated Texas in College Station, sealing the conference championship.
The Sooners haven’t won the regular-season title since the year they won the Women’s College World Series, 2000.
Freshman outfielder Haley Anderson drove in all four runs in the opener against the Bears, and she drove in another in the 12-inning finale.
The Sooners, who led 4-1 in the fifth inning before allowing Baylor to fight back, scored five runs in the top of the 12th inning. Due to NCAA tiebreaker rules, each inning after the ninth, teams must start with a runner on second base.
Amber Flores was on base to start the 12th when Susan Ogden doubled her home.
Samantha Ricketts and Lindsey Vandever followed with singles and OU led 6-4. Savannah Long was hit by a pitch for the third time on the night and loaded the bases.
Wendy Trott made it 8-4 with a two-run single and Flores walked in the final run.
OU will host a fan appreciation night Friday at 6 p.m. to honor seniors Lauren Eckermann, Jadyn Smith, Long and Ogden.