Long ball lifts Sooners in 11

By Scott Wright

Published: May 18, 2008

NORMAN — As Oklahoma's Savannah Long squared around for a sacrifice bunt attempt in the top of the 11th inning of a 5-5 tie against Arkansas on Saturday, Sooner base runner Lindsey Vandever was a step too quick in leaving first base.

She was called out, but what appeared to be a harmful mistake was actually the best thing that could happen to OU in the winner's bracket final of the NCAA regional softball tournament.

Without needing to advance a runner, Long swung away — and hit a go-ahead home run just over the center field fence as Oklahoma escaped with a 6-5 win over the Razorbacks at Marita Hynes Field.

"We've got to thank Lindsey for leaving early,” OU coach Patty Gasso joked after the exhausting victory.

"That was all the plan,” added Vandever.

The Sooners, seeded 10th nationally and No. 1 in the regional, advanced to today's 1 p.m. championship game in the double-elimination tournament.

Gasso said she hasn't decided whether she'll pitch her ace D.J. Mathis, who went all 11 innings Saturday, or go to her fresh No. 2 starter Lauren Eckermann. But the Sooners will have to lose twice today to fail to advance to next weekend's NCAA super-regional, most likely at No. 7 seed Arizona.

"We're pleased to be in the championship game. That's where you want to be in this tournament,” Gasso said. "I know this group learned a lesson that they've got to be better.

"But we're exactly where you want to be, going into Sunday without a loss.”

Mathis allowed 13 hits and walked four batters while striking out 10 throwing 195 pitches Saturday. But the junior left-hander says fatigue won't be an issue if she gets the call today.

"No,” she said. "I never get tired.”

It might have seemed like she was getting tired in the bottom of the seventh, when she issued a walk, then a tying home run to Miranda Dixon. But Mathis responded with five shutout innings the rest of the way.

"Lindsey and I adjusted our game plan,” Mathis said. "We saw that they were getting on the curve ball. We needed to adjust and start working outside more, hitting the outside corner and getting them more off-balance.

"In postseason, nobody wants to go home and no matter who you're playing, it's a battle of wills the whole way.”

OU freshman Wendy Trott provided a crucial insurance run with her sixth home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth inning that put OU on top 5-3.

Long finished 3-for-6 with two runs batted in and Vandever improved to 5-for-7 in the regional after going 2-for-4 with an RBI Saturday.

"I think this win gives us a lot of excitement to come out (Sunday) and just pound someone,” Vandever said. "Just take all of our aggravation that we had in this game out on them and just let it loose.”

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