OU Softball: Parker Throws Fourth Perfect Game For Sooners

Freshman Paige Parker tied an NCAA record by tossing her fourth perfect game of the season as No. 4 Oklahoma run-ruled Utah Valley in five innings, 14-0.

Sunday, May 3rd 2015, 5:50 pm

By: News 9

OU Softball: Parker Throws Fourth Perfect Game For Sooners

Oklahoma freshman Paige Parker tied an NCAA record by tossing her fourth perfect game of the season as the No. 4 Sooner softball team (45-7) run-ruled Utah Valley (16-38) in five innings Sunday, 14-0.

Parker struck out 12 of the 15 batters she faced, finishing one off her career high. Eleven strikeouts were swinging, and Parker needed just 64 pitches (45 strikes) to improve her record to 24-5 this season. Parker joins Louisiana-Lafayette's Kyla Hall (1994) and Boston's Audrey West (1994) as the only pitchers in NCAA history to throw four perfect games in a season. No player has thrown five in one season.

The only other outs of the game came on a lineout that Parker caught to end the second inning, a foul out to Lauren Chamberlain at first in the third inning and a foul out to Whitney Ellis at catcher to end the contest.

In addition, Parker becomes the 16th player in NCAA history to have at least four perfect games in a career.

Oklahoma's offense aided Parker by hitting five home runs, including three in an eight-run fourth inning. Ellis and Kelsey Arnold went back-to-back in the second inning, while in the fourth Nicole Pendley hit a two-run homer, Paris Townsend hit the first grand slam of her career and Jessica Vest added another two-run home run. OU has 99 homers on the season as a team, three off the school and Big 12 record of 102 set in 2012.

The Sooners will wrap up the regular season this weekend with two games against Oklahoma State. Saturday's game will be in Norman, with Sunday's game slated for Stillwater.