Sunday College Softball Roundup

Oklahoma

Brittany Williams and Georgia Casey each drove in two runs and the No. 1 Oklahoma softball team ended its four-game homestand with a 4-1 victory over Houston on Sunday afternoon at Marita Hynes Field.

After suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday, the Sooners (18-1) jumped out quickly against the Cougars (10-7), getting on the board in the first inning.

With two outs and Jessica Shults on first, Keilani Ricketts singled through the right side. Shelby Pendley then walked to load the bases for Brittany Williams, who doubled to right center to plate two runs.

Houston cut into the Sooners' lead in the third inning.

After singling and moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Katie St. Pierre advanced to third on a single by Kendra Cullum. With Reina Gaber batting, Cullum broke for second base, prompting a throw from Shults at catcher. As Cullum was caught in a rundown between first and second, St. Pierre was able to come home and score from third.

Oklahoma went back ahead by two runs in the fourth inning when Lauren Chamberlain doubled to right center with one out and scored one batter later when Georgia Casey singled to center field.

Houston collected a pair of hits in the fifth inning but stellar defense from OU kept the lead at 2-1.

Holly Anderson led off with a single but was picked off at first base as Shults fired down to Casey after a missed bunt by Cullum. Cullum then singled herself but was also erased on a pickoff at first base by Shults.

Williams continued Oklahoma's strong defense in the top of the sixth inning.

With one out and a runner on first, Kayla Holland sent a deep drive to left field. Williams ran back to make the catch right in front of the wall to prevent extra bases.

Like they did in the fourth, Chamberlain and Casey teamed up again in the sixth inning to get the Sooners their fourth and final run.

With one out, Chamberlain reached on an error by Holland at second base. Casey then doubled to the wall in right field and Chamberlain hustled all the way around the bases to score from first.

Michelle Gascoigne got the win in relief of Ricketts to improve to 8-1 on the season. She struck out six and kept the Cougars off the scoreboard over the final four innings of the game.

Oklahoma takes part in its first midweek games of the season this Wednesday with a doubleheader at Wichita State. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Oklahoma State

The Oklahoma State softball team dropped two games to No. 25 Nebraska this afternoon at the Cowgirl Softball Complex. The Cowgirls dropped the first game 3-0 and the second game 10-5.

In game one, the Cowgirls fell behind early and couldn't recover. Starter Kat Espinosa (2-4) went seven innings allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out six while Tarah Ettinger went 2-for-4.

In game two, the Cowgirls scored five runs in the bottom of the first to match the Huskers five runs scored in the top of the inning on a three-run home run by Ettinger and a two-run shot by Amy Graham.

Starting pitcher Simone Freeman (5-6) went seven innings allowing 10 runs on 12 hits and striking out two. Samantha Chrisman and Tiffany Mikkelson both went 2-for-4 in second game.

The Cowgirls return to Stillwater next weekend when they host the Mizuno Classic starting on Friday at 11 am at the Cowgirl Softball Complex.

Tulsa

The 19th-ranked Tulsa softball team claimed the UT Arlington Classic championship with a 2-1 win over Lamar on Sunday at Allan Saxe Field.

Left fielder Jodi Edmiston singled and stole second with two out in the bottom of the seventh, and scored the winning run on a throwing error to give the Golden Hurricane (15-5) the walkoff win.

Junior Aimee Creger (9-1) entered the game in relief in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and two out, struck out the only batter she faced, and earned the win for TU.

"I'm proud of our players for sticking together," Tulsa head coach John Bargfeldt said. "Good teams find a way to win when things aren't going the way you want them to. Our pitching and defense were great. We got a big steal by Jodi Edmiston and she was able to score (on the error). Speed really helped us today."

First baseman Julie Kernen gave Tulsa the 1-0 lead in the second inning when she doubled to score senior Lacey Middlebrooks, who led off the frame with a single.

Lamar tied the score in the fourth inning on a solo home run by center fielder Candyce Carter.

In the top of the seventh with the scored tied at one apiece and two out, Lamar had loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. Creger come in and struck out the first batter she faced to end the inning.

Middlebrooks, who started in the circle for TU, struck out five and scattered seven hits in 6.2 innings before giving way to Creger.

The Golden Hurricane plays at home for the first time this season on Wednesday when it welcomes in-state rival Oklahoma State to the Collins Family Softball Complex for a 5 p.m. contest.