FULLERTON, Calif. – Oklahoma’s offense generated one hit in its game against Pittsburgh Sunday. Turns out, that’s all the Sooners needed.
Sophomore Kelsey Stevens struck out a season-high 10 batters and walked none, while fellow sophomore Leslie Miller hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning as No. 2/2 Oklahoma defeated Pittsburgh, 2-1, at the Easton Tournament in Fullerton, Calif., to finish the weekend on a three-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the first inning as Carissa Throckmorton doubled to right center and took third on a wild pitch. Jordan Fannin immediately followed with an RBI single to plate the game’s first run.
That would be just about all for the Panthers’ offense, though, as Stevens took control. After Fannin’s single, Stevens proceeded to set down the next nine batters she faced before a single led off the fourth inning.
After being held hitless through the game’s first three innings, Oklahoma took the lead in the fourth.
Junior Shelby Pendley drew a one-out walk in front of Miller. Working the count full, Miller showed her power by reaching out and hitting a two-run home run to straight-away center field. It was Miller’s first homer of the season, the second of her career and the seventh in five games for the Oklahoma offense.
The single by Pitt’s Tori Nirschl to leadoff the fourth inning was the lone hit for the Panthers until Carly Thea singled with one out in the seventh. In between, Stevens retired 10 batters in a row, including five strikeouts.
Representing the tying run, Thea attempted to steal second with two outs in the seventh but sophomore catcher Whitney Ellis fired down to second and senior Javen Henson applied the tag to end the game. Ellis has now thrown out two of the three steal attempts against her this season.
Oklahoma hits the road again next weekend at the Littlewood Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. The Sooners’ first game is Friday night at 5:45 p.m. CT against Michigan State.
