Softball Posts Pair of Shutout Victories - KOAM TV 7

Press Release OU:

The Oklahoma softball team ran its fall record to 3-0 with a pair of shutout wins Saturday at their annual Fall Festival. After beating Howard College, 13-0, the Sooners finished the day with a 4-0 triumph over East Central University.

Oklahoma 13, Howard College 0

Oklahoma got all the offense it needed early with a four-run first inning as junior Whitney Ellis hit a two-run single and on the very next pitch, fellow junior Leslie Miller crushed a two-run homer to left field.

An RBI double in the second by junior transfer Tori Nirschl brought the lead to 5-0 before a three-run third inning pushed the advantage to 8-0. In the third, senior Georgia Casey led off by unleashing on a hanging offspeed pitch for a solo home run. Later in the frame, freshman Nicole Pendley hit a two-run double to the gap in right center.

Ellis picked up her third RBI of the game with a run-scoring single in the fourth inning, while a Howard error enabled another run to score later in the stanza.

Leading 10-0, Oklahoma tacked on another run in the sixth when freshman Lea Wodach hit a sacrifice fly to right field. The Sooners got their final runs in the seventh inning when senior Callie Parsons hit a two-run single up the middle.

The offensive explosion backed an outstanding effort in the circle by Oklahoma's pitching trio of freshman Paige Parker, junior Taylor Dewbery and senior Shelby Pendley. The three Sooners combined to strike out 11 batters with just one hit and one walk allowed.

Parker started and struck out seven batters in 3.1 innings of work. Dewbery followed by striking out one and allowing the first hit for an OU opponent this fall in 1.2 frames. Shelby Pendley closed out the final two innings thanks to three strikeouts.

Oklahoma 4, East Central University 0

After a scoreless first inning, Oklahoma broke a 0-0 tie with a two-run second inning.

With the bases loaded, senior Shelby Pendley drew a walk to drive in a run. Two batters later, fellow senior Lauren Chamberlain drove a pitch deep enough to center field to score senior Callie Parsons.

Junior Leslie Miller hit a one-out home run to center field to push the lead to 3-0 in the third inning, while junior Whitney Ellis drew another bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 4-0.

After relying on three pitchers in each of the first two games of the fall, it was the duo of junior Kelsey Stevens and freshman Paige Parker that carried OU to the win.

Stevens got the win as she struck out nine, walked none and allowed just three hits over 4.1 innings of work. Parker then came on and did not allow a hit in her 2.2 innings of relief. She struck out one and walked one.

Through three games, OU pitchers have combined for 36 strikeouts to just three walks in 21 innings.