OU knows two good arms better than one
OU knows two good arms better than one

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By Scott Wright

Published: May 10, 2008

NORMAN — Oklahoma's Patty Gasso is holding pocket aces.

It's a great hand at the poker table, but even more valuable on the softball field.

The Sooner coach knows she can send junior left-hander D.J. Mathis out against any lineup in the country. But if something goes wrong, Gasso has one of college softball's best safety nets — senior Lauren Eckermann, the 2007 Big 12 Conference co-pitcher of the year.

The Sooners begin postseason play today with their 11 a.m. quarterfinal game in the Big 12 Tournament against Friday's Kansas/Nebraska winner at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. In the softball postseason, pitching is paramount. And two good arms are better than one — and Gasso doesn't have to look far into her team's past to remember why.

With Mathis battling a sore shoulder all season, Eckermann had to pitch three games in a 24-hour span to carry the Sooners to last year's Big 12 Tournament title.

"We really spent Lauren,” Gasso said of last year's postseason run. "She wasn't at her best after that.

It's really exciting that these are two pitchers that feel good. They're fresh, they're sharp and they're pain-free.”

The latter is the biggest key. After a solid freshman year, Mathis had rotator cuff and labrum surgery prior to last season and she was in pain all year. Now she's fully healthy. And dominant.

"D.J. is just a completely different player than she was last year,” Gasso said. "It was hard to watch and frustrating for her and us as well, because we know what she could have given us, especially with Lauren being so good.

"Now that bulldog style is back and that wasn't there last year. It's all because she's able to perform.”

Mathis leads the Big 12 with a 1.06 earned-run average, ahead of national player of the year candidate Megan Gibson of Texas A&M. She's second in the league in wins with a 27-5 record and third in strikeouts with 223 in 197 2/3 innings.

"Last year was a rough season physically and mentally,” Mathis said. "Now I'm just going out and trusting that I'm healthy, and knowing that I'm OK to go out and pitch and not have to worry about anything.”

Now the Sooners have what they thought they could have had last year, with both Mathis and Eckermann pitching well.

"We feel very prepared, very well-rested, especially compared to points last year,” Eckermann said. "It's just nice to have that depth in the bullpen.”

During Big 12 Conference play, Eckermann has the second-best ERA in the league. Her 1.33 ERA trails only Mathis' mark of 1.15. Together, they're 15-2 with 100 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings in conference.

"They're two of the best,” said sophomore leadoff hitter Amber Flores. "Last year, we rode Lauren so much that by the end it was hard for her. Having that 1-2 punch this year will be huge for us. They can carry us as far as we want to go.”

Last year, OU was considered one of the top three teams in the country, but fell short of the Women's College World Series when their bats and Eckermann's arm went dead. At least this year, it doesn't look like pitching will be a problem for the Sooners.

"If D.J. was having to throw every game, you would not see her sharpness,” Gasso said. "If we can count on those two equally, I can tell you, it's been a long, long time since I've had that luxury.”

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