Softball Drops Conference Opener
March 21, 2008
NORMAN, Okla. –
With bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, Oklahoma’s Susan Ogden hit an RBI single off the left centerfield wall to lift the 11th ranked Sooners over Kansas, 3-2, in both team’s Big 12 Conference opener.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The loss spoils a five-game Kansas winning streak as the Jayhawks fall to 23-7, while OU improves to 26-8 overall.
Entering the bottom of the seventh inning with both teams tied at two runs a piece, OU singled to put its first runner on base. The next batter reached first on a fielding error by junior Stevie Crisosto and the following batter was hit by a pitch from Val George to load the bases. <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Ogden then proceeded to hit the game-winning RBI single for the Sooners.
KU struggled from the plate unable to produce the offensive answer it needed as they stranded at least one runner in six innings and nine total throughout the game. Crisosto, fellow junior Dougie McCaulley and freshman Liz Kocon were the lone Jayhawks to tally a hit.
Oklahoma quickly took a 1-0 lead after one inning of play scoring on a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt.
Kansas responded in the top of the third when McCaulley hit into a fielder’s choice, while Crisosto beat the throw home. Crisosto led off the inning with a hard-hit double to right center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Betsy Wilson.
The teams stayed tied through the next one and a half innings until OU’s Samantha Ricketts knocked a solo shot over the left field fence giving the Sooners a 2-1 advantage. It was the first home run allowed by Kansas pitcher Val George, who fell to 11-2 from the circle.
The Jayhawks tied the score a second time in the top of the seventh inning when Brittany Hile hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Amanda Jobe.
Kansas and Oklahoma will wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon in a 1 p.m. contest.
