Michigan ends OU's softball season

Wolvernines score three in the 8th to knock off Oklahoma, 5-2.

Michgan hit back-to-back home runs in the 8th inning to take a 5-2 win over Oklahoma and end the Sooners softball season at the NCAA Regional Tournament.

The game was tied after seven innings at 2-2, but pitcher D.J. Mathis gave up a double to lead off the 8th and then was rocked by the back to back round trippers.

OU had taken a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Savannah Long singled in two runs following an intentional walk to Samantha Ricketts that loaded the bases. Long's hit scored Norelle Dickson and Kristin Vesely and broke Michigan pitcher Jenny Ritter's streak of 46.1 scoreless innings in post season play.

Ritter struck out 19 OU batters in eight innings to get the win. She had recorded 15 strikeouts in Saturday's 1-0 nine inning win over OU.

After Michigan tied the game in the 5th, the Sooners had a golden opportunity to regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Amber Spaulding and Vesely opened the inning with back to back hits. OU eventually loaded the bases, but couldn't push in another run.

Mariee Mena suffered a freak injury in the top of the third inning when she was hit in the eye by a thrown ball as the Sooners were throwing it around the infield following a putout. Mena had to leave, and Jamie Fox, who started in left field, had to take over at first.

Mathis was also injured in the 7th inning when a ground ball up the middle glanced off her pitching hand. After getting medical treatment, she was able to stay in the game and completed the seventh without allowing a run, but she may have been hampered by the problem in the final inning.

The Sooners lose two seniors, all-time hit leader Vesely and pitcher Nicole Denes, who pitched six innings without allowing a run in the regional. Everyone else will return next season for coach Patty Gasso.