• OUsigns final piece of pitching staff puzzle

Transcript Staff

The Oklahoma softball team signed Temple Junior College pitcher Lauren Eckermann to a National Letter of Intent Friday.

Eckermann will join the Sooner pitching staff in the fall.

This year, Eckermann was 31-0 and had a NJCAA-best 0.17 earned run average while allowing just five earned runs on 72 hits in 205 innings.

“Lauren arrives at a time when we are trying to solidify our pitching staff,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “We believe she will make a huge impact on our staff next year. Her numbers were extremely impressive at the juco level and we are excited for what she will bring to this program, which has a history of successful pitching.”

The addition of Eckermann immediately strengthens the OU staff, which will return sophomores D.J. Mathis and Morgan Hudsonpillar and senior Jade Prather.

This season, the Sooners lost Stacy Braddock, the No. 2 pitcher behind Kami Keiter in 2005, when she left the team midway through the schedule due to personal reasons.

Mathis was the top pitcher for the Sooners this year, but they’ll miss senior Nicole Denes, who shared starting duties.

Eckermann, a Brenham, Texas, native, led the Temple Leopards to a No. 1 national ranking and a 45-12 record.

“In addition to her excellent skills in the circle, I’m most impressed with her maturity,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “Her work ethic and willingness to win are why I really wanted her to play for the University of Oklahoma.”

Eckermann, a Brenham, Texas, native, led the Temple Leopards to a No. 1 national ranking and a 45-12 record.

She will be joined on the Sooners by three other new players. Freshmen Amber Flores (El Centro, Calif.), Iver McDonald (Houston, Texas) and Lindsey Vandever (Stroud) complete the 2007 class.