Published: March 26, 2008 11:34 pm            

Record night for Sooner softball

NORMAN, Okla. — One year ago, Haley Anderson was hitting against Class 6A pitchers as a member of Edmond Santa Fe.

Wednesday, she was wearing an Oklahoma uniform, helping the Sooners make school history.

“I was really excited,” Anderson said. “I was just trying to stay relaxed and focus on the game.”

No. 11 OU hosted unranked Central Arkansas at Marita Hynes Field. It was no contest. The Sooners set school records for hits and runs in a 23-1 run-rule win.

OU pounded Central Arkansas pitching for 24 hits, a Sooner record. The 23 runs bested the previous record of 21 set on March 4, 2001, against Temple. The 24 hits broke the record of 20 set on March 4, 2005, against Illinois-Chicago.

OU coach Patty Gasso didn’t know about the records until after the game.

“I don’t know if that was the intention,” she said.

Of the Sooners’ starting lineup Wednesday, Anderson had the least experience, making just her eighth start. But she made the most of it, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a career-high five RBIs.

On her first at bat, with the bases loaded, she doubled to left field, clearing the bases to give OU a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

On her third at bat, she singled to left, then later scored on a home run by fellow freshman Wendy Trott in the fourth. In that same inning, Anderson capped her night with a two-run homer to left, in what ended up being a marathon inning. OU scored 14 runs on 13 hits in that frame, including Anderson’s second homer of the season.

This is just her eighth start, but she’s played in 31 games. She’s finally getting comfortable being a Sooner.

“It was a big time thing,” she said of signing with OU. “I was nervous at first, but it’s gone.”

And this is what Gasso wanted. Wednesday was a perfect opportunity for her freshmen to get some experience, knowing the Sooners were up against a team that was struggling. Central Arkansas fell to 2-26, while OU improved to 28-5.

“I gave some rest to some starters,” Gasso said. “We put some people out there that weren’t ready for it, but they were ready for it. They’re all trying to win a spot and the beauty of it was watching them make a case for it.”

Freshman Wendy Trott went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the fourth.

OU was coming off a 2-0 loss to Team USA at Hall of Fame Stadium Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Although a loss, it was an impressive showing, facing the world’s best pitching.

OU didn’t have any success at the plate, but maybe it will help the rest of the season.

“It was just good to hear the sound of solid contact tonight,” Gasso said. “We took our hacks (against Team USA), so we did not get cheated. We were a little overwhelmed with the movement of the ball and I knew they wanted to come out here and just have solid connection with the ball.”

So with a road trip to Big 12 foe Nebraska Friday and Saturday, Gasso rested some starters Wednesday and allowed some newbies to get playing time.

But some of the starters did play and took advantage. Amber Flores was 4-for-5 with two RBIs, including a solo homer in the second. Savannah Long was 3-for-3 with one RBI. Susan Ogden was 3-for-5 with six RBIs.

“At the same time, we’re not going to take this win and think that we are big time,” Gasso said. “We want to focus on Nebraska.”



Scott Moore writes for The Norman (Okla.) Transcript.

        

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