• OUsigns final piece of pitching staff puzzle
Transcript Staff
The Oklahoma softball team signed Temple Junior College pitcher Lauren Eckermann to a National Letter of Intent Friday.
Eckermann will join the Sooner pitching staff in the fall.
This year, Eckermann was 31-0 and had a NJCAA-best 0.17 earned run average while allowing just five earned runs on 72 hits in 205 innings.
“Lauren arrives at a time when we are trying to solidify our pitching staff,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “We believe she will make a huge impact on our staff next year. Her numbers were extremely impressive at the juco level and we are excited for what she will bring to this program, which has a history of successful pitching.”
The addition of Eckermann immediately strengthens the OU staff, which will return sophomores D.J. Mathis and Morgan Hudsonpillar and senior Jade Prather.
This season, the Sooners lost Stacy Braddock, the No. 2 pitcher behind Kami Keiter in 2005, when she left the team midway through the schedule due to personal reasons.
Mathis was the top pitcher for the Sooners this year, but they’ll miss senior Nicole Denes, who shared starting duties.
Eckermann, a Brenham, Texas, native, led the Temple Leopards to a No. 1 national ranking and a 45-12 record.
“In addition to her excellent skills in the circle, I’m most impressed with her maturity,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “Her work ethic and willingness to win are why I really wanted her to play for the University of Oklahoma.”
Eckermann, a Brenham, Texas, native, led the Temple Leopards to a No. 1 national ranking and a 45-12 record.
She will be joined on the Sooners by three other new players. Freshmen Amber Flores (El Centro, Calif.), Iver McDonald (Houston, Texas) and Lindsey Vandever (Stroud) complete the 2007 class.
OU Sports
Sooners sign junior college ace
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
-
Big 12, SEC deal breaks the mold
It is unclear what the on-the-field product of the game-for-which-there-is-not-yet-a-name will be. Indeed, all we really know is the Big 12 and SEC plan to play a game on Jan. 1, 2015 (and on every Jan. 1, thereafter) that will include ...
-
Rivalry helped shape program
For coach Patty Gasso, it goes all the way back to 1995, her first year at Oklahoma. That was when her Sooners played Arizona six times throughout the season. Those Sooners were “annihilated” in all six of those contests....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners make winning look easy
