No. 6 Oklahoma Sweeps Iowa State in Softball Action

AMES, Iowa - No. 6 Oklahoma swept the Iowa State softball team Sunday in a Big 12 doubleheader at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The Sooners won the first game, 11-2 and took the second game, 13-3. Iowa State fell to 9-16 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference.

In the first game, Oklahoma pounded out 14 hits en route to a 11-2 victory over ISU. The Sooners took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Sooners scored eight runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a commanding 9-0 lead. LaKisha Washington singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Christy Ring reached on an error and advanced to second on a Kelli Braitsch single that advanced Washington to third. Ring scored on a passed ball. Cyclone hurler Jen Bice then walked Lisa Carey to put runners on first and third. Ashli Barrett homered to left center to clear the bases, giving OU a 5-0 lead. Pinch hitter Andrea Davis had a single, but was followed by two outs. Washington promptly singled and singles by Evans, Braitsch and Carey drove in the final three runs.

The Cyclones got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior Kimi Yoshizawa walked to lead off the inning. Pinch hitter Kelly Wardein reached on an error, advancing pinch runner Molly McNertney to second. Rainey Eanes was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Pinch hitter Morgan LeCluyse singled, scoring McNertney. Lauren Cathey's sacrifice fly scored Ashley Core to make it, 9-2.

Oklahoma added two more runs in the top of the seventh as Carey hit her fifth home run of the season to give the Sooners an 11-2 victory

Bice (4-7) worked the mound 4 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs on 11 hits. Reliever Kristin Ferguson pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on two hits. LeCluyse was 1-of-1 at the plate with one RBI. Cathey had a hit and a RBI, while Eanes, Julia Lindsay, Laura Browning and Yoshizawa each contributed a hit.

The Sooners took the night cap 13-3, scoring 13 runs on 15 hits. OU scored all five of its runs in the third inning with two outs. Sophomore Leah Gulla led off with a double and Ring walked. After Carey walked to load the bases, Barrett was walked to score the first run. Jennifer Stump then hit OU's second grand slam of the series to give Oklahoma a 5-0 lead.

The Sooners scored two runs in the top of the fourth, as Carey drove in Washington and Ring to give OU a 7-0 lead.

The Cyclones got on the board by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth. LeCluyse singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on an Erica Martinez double. LeCluyse and Martinez then scored on a Cathey single to make it, 7-2.

Oklahoma added another run in the fifth when Braitsch doubled to score Ring making it 8-2.

Stump expanded the Sooner lead hitting her second home run of the day to give OU a 9-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

The Cyclones scored for the final time when Kimi Yoshizawa singled to score Martinez making it a 9-3 ballgame.

Barrett added another four runs in the seventh when she hit a grand slam over the center field fence.

Martinez recorded the loss for the Cyclones, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits in six innings. Cathey had one hit and two RBI, while Yoshizawa was 2-of-2 with one RBI to pace ISU offensively. Blackmon had two hits, while McNertney, LeCluyse and Sarah Kinney each had a hit.

Iowa State returns to action on April 3 when they travel to Des Moines to take on Drake.