OU Headed for Battle in Seattle

Originally Published: May 25, 2010 4:27 PM CDT

Dave Carty
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The University of Oklahoma women’s softball team boarded a plane to Seattle, Washington where it faces a tough uphill battle against No. 3 Washington if it want to advance to the Women’s College World Series.

The No. 14 Sooners (46-10) will rely on its talented pitching staff, which logged a 1.37 earned run average, by far the best in the Big 12. Keilani Ricketts (31-8) was dominant all season, posting 324 strikeouts and a conference-best 14 shutouts. Also no slouch is freshman hurler Michelle Gascoigne (7-0). The freshman showed her talents in limited action, logging a 1.95 earned run average.

Along with the pitching staff, OU boats the Big 12 Player of the Year in Amber Flores, who became the first player to ever receive the honor twice. Between Flores and Jessica Shults – second in the Big 12 with 61 runs batted in – the Sooners are able to generate some run support for their pitching staff.

The road has proven kind to the Sooner as well. OU is 11-3 away from Norman and haven’t lost on the road since April 7 at Oklahoma State. But the 2,000-plus mile trip may cause a bit of jet lag for the crimson and cream.

But the Huskies are no slouches either. They’re the defending national champions.

After winning the regular season Pacific-10 Championship, Washington earned an automatic berth to the 2010 NCAA Championship.

When the two teams met on February 26, Washington prevailed with a 7-4 victory, breaking up OU’s eight-game winning streak.

First pitch in game one is scheduled for 9 p.m. CDT on Thursday. Game two begins the following day at 7:30 p.m. and game three, if necessary, will take place immediately following game two.