OU Downs Southern Mississippi, 3-1, in World Series

May 27, 2000

Postgame Audio!
* Coach Gasso
* A. Davis
* M. Fulton
* J. Stewart

OKLAHOMA CITY - The University of Oklahoma softball team won its second Women's College World Series game in school history today, defeating Southern Mississippi, 3-1, at Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The Sooners now take a 64-8 season record into Sunday's 2:15 p.m. nationally-televised (ESPN2) semifinal contest versus second-seeded Arizona. The Wildcats eliminated top-ranked and top-seeded Washington 4-2 in Saturday's final game.

Oklahoma totaled six hits, two of them home runs, against one of the best pitchers in the country in senior Courtney Blades. Blades threw a perfect game in Southern Mississippi's opening win over Arizona, the best hitting team in the nation, on Thursday.

OU opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as rightfielder Andrea Davis slammed a homer to left-center field on the first pitch she saw. The long ball upped Davis' season total to 14. In the fifth inning, the Sooners again led off with a solo home run, this time by designated player Mandy Fulton. Second baseman LaKisha Washington singled to second base later in the inning and then nothced her 21st stolen base of the year. Leftfielder Christy Ring drove a single up the middle to plate Washington and give the Sooners a 3-0 lead.

Southern Mississippi scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a home run by shortstop Amy Berman.

Blades' record dropped to 51-7 on the season as OU became the only team to beat the All-American twice in 2000 (the first time was a 10-1 win on Feb. 13 in Arlington, Texas). She totaled 13 strikeouts, the most in a seven-inning game against Oklahoma this season. OU sophomore Jennifer Stewart gave up six hits in the complete-game effort and improved to 32-6 on the year. The 32 victories ranks second on the OU single-season list.

Third-seeded Oklahoma and fourth-seeded UCLA are the only two teams that remain unbeaten through three days of action. The Bruins beat Washington 3-2 this morning in a game that resumed after being suspended Friday night due to inclement weather.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Downs Southern Mississippi, 3-1, in World Series

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