OU bows out early at Big 12 Tournament

By Scott Wright

Published: May 11, 2008

Last year's postseason failures were fresh in Patty Gasso's mind Saturday afternoon.

After admittedly overusing pitcher Lauren Eckermann in winning last year's Big 12 Softball Tournament, the Oklahoma coach wasn't going to send her Sooners to the same fate this year.

But looking ahead led to an early exit from the Big 12 Tournament as the second-seeded Sooners' 6-5 quarterfinal loss to 10th-seeded Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

Gasso chose to save ace pitcher D.J. Mathis, instead starting Eckermann, who allowed two early runs. Gasso then went to Jadyn Smith over Mathis in relief, and the senior allowed three runs in the third inning.

"I felt it was still early enough for us to make a comeback,” Gasso said. "I wouldn't do it differently, because to throw D.J. out here every game and go into a regional and her be tired is not what we want.

"Although we would love to have this tournament under our belt, the big picture is getting to the College World Series and that's what we're gonna be working for now.”

Mathis entered in the fourth inning and allowed only one hit the rest of the way, but the early deficit was too much for the Sooners, despite two home runs and four RBIs from first baseman Samantha Ricketts.

Trailing 5-4, OU gave the Huskers an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Sooner catcher Lindsey Vandever tried to pick off a runner at third base with two outs and an 0-2 count on the batter. Vandever's throw hit off the glove of third baseman Jessica Legendre and went into left field, giving Nebraska a 6-4 lead.

"It's just an aggressive catcher trying to make a big play,” Gasso said. "It's an aggressive play, and I don't want to fault her for that.”

OU now must wait until 9 tonight to learn its postseason fate. The Sooners entered the weekend ranked No. 7 in the USA Softball top 25 and will be a candidate to host a four-team NCAA regional tournament next weekend. However, the Sooners were the No. 3 seed in the country last year yet were sent to Massachusetts for regionals.

The NCAA Tournament selection show will air on ESPNU (Cox 253).

"I will be surprised with whatever I see on the screen, because I have no clue,” Gasso said. "I think we'll definitely be a top 16 seed.”

And the Sooners hope Saturday's stunning loss will serve a purpose as the postseason continues.

"I think it's good to happen now instead of next week, because then we'd be done for good,” Ricketts said. "I think it showed us some things we need to work on, and we're gonna go into this week ready to fix the things that were exposed out here.”

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