Two Big Innings Lead Sooners to Sixth Straight Win

OU scored four runs in each of the first and sixth innings and blew out Illinois-Chicago.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:15 pm

By: News On 6

Two Big Innings Lead Sooners to Sixth Straight Win

Originally Published: Mar 6, 2011 2:19 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Okla. – The Oklahoma softball team extended its winning streak to six games Sunday with a 9-1 victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago.

The Sooners (17-5) took advantage of a disastrous pitching start to build an early lead. Chicago starter Ashley Hewett could not find the plate, and walked six of OU’s first eight batters. The last four walks all came with the bases loaded, which handed the Sooners a quick 4-0 lead.

Hewett was pulled after retiring only one batter and allowing four runs despite not giving up any hits, but the damage already had been done. Melinda Macias put the Flames on the board with an RBI single in the second, but OU immediately responded with a sacrifice fly from Brittany Williams.

The Sooners added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth on back-to-back two run doubles from Jessica Shults and Haley Nix. That extended OU’s lead to eight runs and ended the game.

Kirsten Allen earned the win after giving up one earned run on six hits in three innings of work. Hewett was credited with the loss.

The Sooners now have recovered from a difficult stretch in which they lost four games in one weekend with six consecutive wins. They will remain in Norman for their next game against Tulsa at 6 p.m. Wednesday.