Ricketts Leads Sooners to Another Shutout Win

Originally Published: Apr 24, 2010 5:33 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

LINCOLN, Nebraska – The No. 14 OU softball team dominated from start to finish and cruised to a 5-0 victory over Nebraska Saturday.

The Sooners (35-10, 9-3) got on the board when Katie Norris connected on a two-run single in the top of second inning, giving OU a quick 2-0 lead. Keilani Ricketts stretched the lead to 4-0 with a two-run home run in the fourth, and she held the Cornhuskers (27-21, 6-7) in check on the mound.

Ricketts (21-8) went the distance for her 19th complete game of the season and gave up just two hits in the shutout. She got into trouble in the third inning, when a hit batter and dropped fly ball allowed Nebraska to load the bases with one out. Ricketts got out of the jam by forcing a double play ball, and was never in jeopardy of giving up a run again.

Amber Flores finished the scoring in the fifth inning with a solo home run, her 13th of the season. Ricketts shut the door from there.

Robin Macklin was credited with the loss after getting off to a very rough start. She gave up two hits, two runs, a walk and a hit batter in the first eight batters she faced and was immediately pulled. Ashley Hagemann pitched the final 5.2 innings, but could not overcome Ricketts’ gem.

The Sooners have won three games in a row and will complete their two-game series against Nebraska at noon Sunday.