Ricketts' Solid Pitching Earns Sooners Shutout

Originally Published: Apr 10, 2010 4:40 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners (30-9) overwhelmed the No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies (32-10) Saturday, 6-0.

Keilani Ricketts (18-8) pitched her 17th complete game, giving up only three hits while striking out 15 batters. It’s her eighth shutout of the season.

OU got on the board in the third inning after A&M’s Rebecca Arbino walked Chana'e Jones and hit Amber Flores with a pitch. Jessica Shults reached first base after an error, allowing Jones to score and Flores to reach third. Haley Anderson, pinch running for Shults, stole second with Lindsey Vandever up to bat. Vandever hit a three-run homer to left field, as the Sooners took the lead 4-0 in the top of the third.

Ricketts held her composure in the circle, keeping the Aggies scoreless. The Sooners again made an offensive push in the top of the fourth when Brianna Turang singled to right field. Jones followed with another single up the middle, sending Turang to second. Jones and Turang were both able to score after an error by Aggie catcher Meagan May. The two runs put the Sooners up 6-0.

Arbino allowed nine hits and one homer while striking out three batters.

Ricketts held off the Aggie batters to finish the game with a shutout and earn the team its first win in a two-game series. Oklahoma plays Texas A&M Sunday at noon.