Transcript Staff
LUBBOCK, Texas — Oklahoma had to wait an extra hour for a chance to open the conference season with a win, but finally did so with two big innings to beat Texas Tech 7-0 Thursday.
Heavy rain delayed the start of the double-header in Lubbock. The third-ranked Sooners improved to 34-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while Tech dropped to 17-14 and 0-1.
Sooner pitcher Lauren Eckermann was dominant, striking out a season-high 12, while allowing just five hits. She improved her record to 20-0, best in the Big 12, while recording her seventh shut out.
Offensively, OU had 10 hits, but didn’t get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when Lindsey Vandever drove home Amber Flores and Susan Ogden with a double.
Stacia Aleman made it 3-0 by bringing home Vandever with a single.
In the seventh, a single by Norrelle Dickson and a walk by Jamie Fox set up Samantha Ricketts, who hit a home run over the left-field fence to give the Sooners a 6-0 lead. Ricketts now has a Big 12-leading 13 homers.
The Sooners scored their final run when Iver McDonald scored from third on a bunt single by Vandever.
