Dominant Pitching Sends Sooners to Big 12 Victory

Originally Published: May 15, 2010 4:23 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – Keilani Ricketts pitched a complete game and gave up just three hits, and the OU softball team defeated Texas Tech 2-0 Saturday in the Big 12 Tournament.

Ricketts and Tech starter Karli Merlich both started well, giving up just one combined hit in the first two innings. But the Sooners broke the scoreless tie in the third inning, when Katie Norris led off with a single. Karolyne Long pinch ran for her and stole second moments later, then scored the game’s first run on an RBI single by Jessica Shults.

OU added an insurance run in the fourth on an RBI single by Norris, and that’s all the help Ricketts would need. She did not give up more than one hit in any inning, and recorded two strikeouts in six different innings. Ricketts also struck out seven of the Red Raiders’ nine starters.

The Sooners will now advance to the next round of the conference tournament, where they will face the winner between Texas A&M and Nebraska at 7:30 p.m.