Sooners Blast Defending Champion Washington

Originally Published: May 27, 2010 11:51 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SEATTLE, Washington – Amber Flores busted out of a hitting slump, and the OU softball team blasted reigning Player of the Year Danielle Lawrie on the way to a 6-1 victory over defending national champion Washington Thursday.

Flores came into the night hitting just .154 in her previous 15 games and went 0-for-8 in regional action, but she broke out of her slump with three home runs off Lawrie. Jessica Shults and Dani Dobbs also added home runs, causing Washington to pull Lawrie out of a game for the first time this season.

After Lawrie was pulled, Flores launched another ball over the outfield wall, but it was ruled foul. It was hit over the foul pole in left field, and OU head coach Patty Gasso argued the call but it was not overturned. Flores went on to walk.

Lawrie entered the night with a 38-2 record and is one of three finalists to earn National Player of the Year honors again this season. The Sooners’ six runs were by far the most she has surrendered this season.

While Lawrie struggled, OU pitcher Keilani Ricketts kept the Huskies in check for most of the game. She surrendered just two hits, and the only run Washington scored was unearned. Ricketts used a constant mix of fastballs and change-ups that kept the Huskies off balance, resulting in nine strikeouts.

The defending champion Huskies came into super regional play with the No. 3 seed, while OU was seeded 14th. The Sooners now just need to win one of the next two games to advance to the College World Series held in Oklahoma City.

They will get their first chance to eliminate Washington at 7:30 p.m. Friday. If the Sooners lose that game, the two teams will play again at 10 p.m. to decide the series victory.