May 12, 2007

Box Score | All-Tournament Ballot

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma scored all six of its runs in the first three innnings and held off Texas Tech's late rally to down the Red Raiders 6-3 for the 2007 Big 12 Softball Championship title in front of 1,266 fans. The postseason crown was the third for the Sooners and their first since 2001. OU also won the inaugural Big 12 title in 1996.

The No. 2 seed Sooners (52-6) earned the Big 12's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. No. 8 seed Texas Tech (24-27) became the lowest seed to advance to the Big 12 Championship final. The NCAA tournament field will be announced May 13 at 2 p.m. (CT) on ESPNews.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning and Oklahoma erupted for five more over the next two frames. Tech picked up a run in the fourth inning and had the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth, but the Sooners held them to a single score. The Raiders loaded the bags again in the seventh with one out before OU pitcher Lauren Eckermann got the next two batters to foul out to end the game.

Eckermann improved her record to 34-3 on the season. She pitched 6.2 innings with two runs, one earned, on nine hits while striking out eight and walking two. Ashly Jacobs suffered the loss, giving up six runs, four earned, on five hits in three innings. The freshman pitched a total of 22 2/3 innings in the two-day championship.

Five different teams have won the Big 12 Softball Championship in the 12-year history of the event. A different school has won each of the last four titles (Nebraska, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma). OU's three championships ties it with Nebraska for second-most in Big 12 history behind Texas' four crowns.

Oklahoma Quotes
Head Coach Patty Gasso...
"For our team to do this here and know what it is like to be in this kind of pressure is great. Because one loss and you're out and our team went out and gave it everything they had and I am so proud of them."

On the excitement of the team:
"It is so great to see our team experience this and feel the way they do. And more than anything I am excited to see what they will do with this in the next couple of weeks. They have stepped into a championship experience and that is exactly where you want to be heading into the post-season.

The meaning of the win:
"If anything, I would say we secured some things. But more than anything, our team wanted that trophy. We have been close in so many areas and we talked about not wanting to be the bridesmaid anymore. We wanted to go after it and get this ring. They wanted it and they wanted it desperately." Junior Pitcher Lauren Eckermann "I was just taking it one pitch at a time, not looking past that. It was just an all-around team win. We had so many great offensive plays, hits and diving catches that saved runs. It was a great team win and it feels fantastic."

On the end of the game:
"It definitely got a little tense and a little exciting at the end of the game, but it is the end outcome that matters the most. Amber (Flores) made an outstanding play to end the game but our defense the whole game was outstanding. The dugout was alive and cheering us on and you could feel it. Everyone was involved and that makes the win that much sweeter because it was a team win."

Texas Tech Quotes
Head Coach Teresa Wilson...
"I was proud of our team. We did a good job. We had 10 hits in the game, leaving the bases loaded I think in the last three innings. If we execute, we put ourselves in a position to win this game. I can't complain about the opportunities we had, we just needed to execute it and come through in the clutch. We have a young staff and they got some walks and they got some nice hits. The damage is done when you walk somebody. We'll try to work on that and come back next year."

2007 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP ? ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lauren Eckermann, Oklahoma, P, Jr. (MVP)
Ashly Jacobs, Texas Tech, P, Fr.
Lindsey Vandever, Oklahoma, C, Fr.
Robyn Wike, Texas Tech, C, Jr.
Savannah Long, Oklahoma, SS, Jr.
Jamie Hinshaw, Texas A&M, 3B, Jr.
Norrelle Dickson Oklahoma, 3B, Sr.
Julie Silver, Missouri, OF, Fr.
Jennifer Corkin, Texas Tech, 1B, Jr.
Jen Bruck, Missouri, P, Jr.
Brandy Moulin, Texas Tech, 3B, Sr.
Kassie Humphreys, Kansas, P, Sr.