Sooners Sweep Two Games in California Tournament

Originally Published: Mar 18, 2010 10:6 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

FULLERTON, California – The OU softball team swept games against Utah and Arizona State Thursday thanks to a walk-off hit in the second game.

After Arizona State came back to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the seventh, ASU pitcher Sam Parlich struck out the Sooners’ first two batters in the bottom of the inning. But Haley Nix started an OU rally with a single, and Keilani Ricketts took a walk with a full count to move Nix into scoring position. Katie Norris responded with a game-winning single.

Norris’ clincher came at the end of a scoring flurry for both teams in the final two innings. With OU winning 1-0, Arizona State scored two unearned runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. The Sooners responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead thanks to a two-run home run by Norris and an RBI double by Brianna Turang.

The seesaw battle continued in the seventh, when the Sun Devils scored two more to tie the game and force Norris’ final heroics.

In the first game of the day, OU beat Utah 3-0. All three runs came in the third inning, and all three were unearned. Karolyne Long was the first batter of the inning and reached on a throwing error that sent her to second base. Amber Flores eventually drove her in with an RBI single.

Lindsey Vandever walked with two outs in the inning, which loaded the bases. Haley Nix then hit an infield single that scored Flores and kept the bases loaded. The next batter, Dani Dobbs, was hit by a pitch that brought in the third and final run.

Allee Allen pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up five hits and walking four. Joni Cook also pitched a complete game for Utah and did not surrender any earned runs, but still came away with the loss. She gave up four hits and struck out three.