(Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma Athletics)
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A patient approach at the plate guided No. 11/7 Oklahoma (5-3) to a 7-2 victory over SIU-Edwardsville (1-6) Saturday afternoon at the Littlewood Classic.
The Sooners drew 13 walks, the most since recording 15 against Iowa State on April 26, 2013 and the second most in at least the last eight seasons. Nine different players reached via base on balls, including three from junior Georgia Casey and two each from fellow juniors Lauren Chamberlain and Jessica Vest.
While patience was a virtue at the plate, the Sooners were aggressive on the basepaths. After recording four stolen bases in the first seven games, they stole eight bases in nine attempts Saturday, finishing one off the school record of nine swipes set against Illinois-Chicago on March 4, 2005. Chamberlain and Vest each stole two bases to lead the team.
Oklahoma scored all their runs in each of the first four innings.
In the first, senior Destinee Martinez drew a one-out walk and came around to score as SIUE starter Haley Chambers was called for three illegal pitches while facing Chamberlain. The at-bat to Chamberlain ended with a walk and she proceeded to steal second, take third on another illegal pitch and come home to score on a single up the middle by junior Shelby Pendley.
After a steal of second by Pendley, sophomores Erin Miller and Leslie Miller drew back-to-back walks before Vest took a full-count pitch for ball four to make it 3-0 for the Sooners.
Sophomore Whitney Ellis, who had a career high two hits and matched her personal best with two runs scored, led off the second inning with a solo home run to left field on the first pitch she saw. It was her first of the season and the second of her career. It also marked the sixth time in eight games that OU homered.
A two-out rally in the third pushed the Oklahoma lead to 6-0.
Vest singled to left field to keep the inning alive and stole second. A single and stolen base from Ellis put a pair of runners into scoring position, while a walk to junior Georgia Casey filled the bases. Martinez stepped in and dropped a double down the left field line to plate two.
Oklahoma got its seventh and final run in the fourth when Erin Miller hit the first triple of her career to the gap in right center and came home on a sharp RBI single up the middle by Leslie Miller.
In addition to her run-scoring single, Leslie Miller picked up the win in relief for OU.
After sophomore Kelsey Stevens pitched the first 3.0 innings with one hit and one walk allowed, Miller came on to pitch the next 2.0 innings. She gave up four hits and two walks but struck out one and kept the Cougars off the scoreboard to earn her first win of the year and the second of her career.
Oklahoma closes out play at the Littlewood Classic with two games on Sunday. The Sooners face No. 3/3 Washington at 12:15 p.m. CT before facing Michigan State at 2:30 p.m.
