If you just look at the final score of 10-2, it could be somewhat misleading with respect to how this game played out. Oklahoma wound up run ruling Texas A&M, but it was a close game until the very end when the OU offense finally did what it does and things got away from the Aggies.
The Sooners jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over the first two innings and their ace, Keilani Ricketts, was cruising. Then a cheap home run made it 3-1 followed the next inning by a legitimate home run and all of a sudden it was a one run game. It would stay that way until the sixth when Texas A&M's starter would begin to tire after eclipsing the 100 pitch mark and a seven run explosion would follow.
Oklahoma opened the home half of the sixth inning with a walk, followed by a single, then an infield single to load the bases as National Player of the Year finalist Lauren Chamberlain strolled to the plate. Proving to be the team player she's been all season, Chamberlain would take first of three consecutive walks which would push a one run game to a 6-2 OU lead. OU would plate another before Ricketts would come to the plate with two on and the opportunity to end things an inning early. And end them she did. The senior All-American was a little late on the pitch, but she is so strong she still sent it over the left field wall for a walk off, run rule home run.
Outside of the two solo home runs, which were two of the only three hits she allowed all night, Ricketts was the dominant presence in the circle we've been so accustomed to seeing. She finished the game with thirteen strikeouts to just one walk and made the Aggies look silly all night long with her change-up.
With the win Oklahoma is just one more victory away from another appearance in the Women's College World Series. The two teams will square off again Saturday afternoon at 11:00 a.m. with the game airing once again on ESPN.
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