OU Heads East For NCAA Softball Tournament

Originally Published: May 20, 2010 9:5 PM CDT

Steve McGehee
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

NORMAN, Oklahoma – For the first time in three years, the Oklahoma softball team will begin NCAA Tournament play away from home. The Sooners (43-10) are the No. 14 seed and play Syracuse (32-24) in the opening round game Friday in College Park, Maryland.

Oklahoma is making its 17^th straight appearance in the NCAA Softball Championship. The Orange is making its first appearance in the NCAA Championship, after winning the Big East Tournament.

The Sooners feel just fine leaving the comforts of home and heading to the east coast.

“I don’t think we get rattled in any situation. We have proven we are a good road team,” senior Amber Flores said.

The Sooners enter the tournament with a strong presence on the pitching mound. Freshman Keilani Ricketts is 28-8 with an ERA of 1.29 and 297 strikeouts, the team ERA is 1.45, fourth best in the nation.

Fordham (47-10) and Maryland (33-21) are the other two schools in the NCAA Regional at College Park.

Oklahoma and Syracuse are scheduled to start at 4 p.m.