Oklahoma's Amber Flores, right, was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, including a first-inning home run, against Oklahoma State. by BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
But in the bottom half of the first, Sooner leadoff hitter Amber Flores swung the momentum back to OU for good with one swing of her bat.
Flores' solo home run over the center-field wall keyed the No. 8-ranked Sooners' 6-1 victory Wednesday night at Marita Hynes Field in front of a season-high 1,316 fans.
"I just went up there swinging the bat, trying to get the ball up in the air,” said Flores, who had a tremendous defensive play at second base to end the game. "Anytime the crowd is into the game with two rivals, it's big. The way the fans packed the park tonight really pumped us up.”
Flores led the Sooners offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and the homer.
That proved to be more than enough for OU ace and reigning Big 12 co-pitcher of the year Lauren Eckermann, who moved to 12-4 on the season after fanning five batters and scattering six hits in a complete game.
"I didn't the like way we started,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. "In the first inning, we were skittish defensively, which is unlike us. But answering with a home run was big. And Lauren had great control over a good Oklahoma State lineup.”
After the first inning, the Cowgirl lineup threatened only once more in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs.
But Eckermann got Ashley Boyd to foul out to catcher Lindsey Vandever to end the inning.
"I never felt like we couldn't come back from behind,” Eckermann said. "We always felt like we were in control.”
The Sooners weren't in control early, though.
In the first, OSU leadoff hitter Mariah Gearhart singled on a bunt, then advanced to second after Vandever threw the ball over the first baseman into right field.
Katelyn Bright then singled to left fielder Chana'e Jones, who couldn't cleanly field the ball, which allowed Gearhart to score to put the Cowgirls up early 1-0.
But Eckermann retired the next three batters to end the inning and OU's defense was sharp the rest of the way.
"We got out to a good start, but that home run gave them a lot of momentum,” said OSU coach Rich Wieligman, whose Cowgirls fell to 24-22, 7-7 in the Big 12. "After the first, we couldn't get going offensively again until it was too late.”
Tuesday, the Sooners (39-11, 12-2) finished off a 3-1 victory over OSU.
The game was suspended nearly three weeks ago in the second inning because of weather, with OU leading 2-0.
Rainy weather nearly derailed Wednesday's game, but the skies cleared up just a few minutes before the first pitch.
