By Jeff Johncox — One of the best seasons in Oklahoma softball history ended abruptly Sunday afternoon.
The Sooners (55-8) fell to DePaul (46-11) 7-2 at Marita Hynes Field, dropping two straight games for the first time this season.
With the victory the Blue Demons won the best-of-three NCAA super regional, advancing to next week’s Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
“I don’t know what to say,” DePaul coach Eugene Lenti said. “This is overwhelming.This is our fourth Women’s College World Series and it never gets old, only better. Oklahoma is a great team. They showed their guts and grit … Give us credit, though. To come in and beat Oklahoma twice here, that’s something.”
Sandy Vojik got to Sooner starter Lauren Eckermann for the second straight day, leading off the game with a triple and scoring on a fielder’s choice to give DePaul a 1-0 lead.
The Sooners responded in the top of the second inning, when Jamie Fox and Lindsey Vandever took Becca Heteniak over the left-field wall for back-to-back solo home runs.
It looked like OU might force a third if-necessary game, but the Blue Demons came back big with a four-run third inning.
Jackie Tarulli-Fisher doubled in the go-ahead run and Kate Sheaks followed with a two-run homer to put DePaul up for good.
“Honestly, I think DePaul is so on fire,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “They are one of those destiny teams. “Coming from UMass and into here, we just weren’t on fire. You can really just feel that.”
Heteniak was replaced by DePaul ace Tracie Adix in the fourth inning, and Adix picked up where she left off the day before. She went four innings, allowing two baserunners, though neither on the benefit of a hit.
The Sooner hitters were quieted for the most part again Sunday, and only amassed seven hits in the two games.
The Blue Demons hit OU pitching for 10 runs on 16 hits in the series.
“The kids really came through offensively,” Lenti said. “We talked coming in about the offense carrying us all weekend long. But I’m really happy with the way our pitchers played, too. Becca and Tracie were very good.”
Eckermann finished the season at 37-5 for OU, going 22⁄3 innings and giving up five runs on six hits while striking out three. D.J. Mathis and Morgan Hudsonpillar finished up the game for the Sooners.
“You have to give credit to DePaul,” Gasso said. “They were outstanding again. They’re a team that can win a national championship. They reminded me of us when we’re on.”
The Sooners carried a Big 12 tournament title and a regional title into the off-season, but the finish was nothing short of a huge letdown. The Sooners, ranked No. 1 and the third seed in the entire NCAA draw, had earned a trip home to qualify for their sixth WCWS.
It didn’t happen.
Gasso will hold on to the good stuff.
“I’m extremely proud of this team and all their accomplishments,” Gasso said. “I’ve had a blast working with them all along. It’s a season I’ll always remember.”
Jeff Johncox
366-3535
jjohncox@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
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