Sooners Claim National Title!

May 29, 2000

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Fan ReactionPostgame Audio!

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma softball team captured its first-ever national championship today by beating UCLA, 3-1, in front of a Women's College World Series record crowd of 8,049 at Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The title is the first by a women's athletic program at OU. The Sooners finished the season with the best record in the country at 66-8.

Oklahoma, the third-seed in the Women's College World Series, got on the scoreboard in the third inning with a two-run home run from All-American first baseman Lisa Carey. It was the second homer in as many days for the junior as her solo shot versus Arizona in the semifinals accounted for the game's only run. Centerfielder Erin Evans, who knocked a single to left field for her second hit of the game, scored ahead of Carey. The shot was Carey's 20th of the year and tied the OU single-season record which was set last year by Lynette Velazquez.

The inning continued when rightfielder Andrea Davis singled to right field. Pinch runner Jaime White advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior All-American Ashli Barrett. Designated player Mandy Fulton followed Barrett's bunt with one of her own, placing runners on second and third with two outs. Then freshman shortstop Kelli Braitsch nailed a single to left field, driving in White for the 3-0 lead.

The Bruins tightened the game with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Natasha Watley reached on an infield single and then moved to third on a Julie Adams single to right-center field. Watley scored on a sacrifice fly by UCLA catcher Julie Marshall, but OU pitcher Jennifer Stewart promptly recorded her only strikeout of the game on the next batter to end the inning.

Stewart turned in another impressive performance on the mound today, earning the World Series Most Outstanding Player Award. The sophomore from Yukon, Okla., earned victories in all four of OU's WCWS wins and finished the season at 34-6 (she now ranks second on the school's single-season wins list). She gave up only two runs in 23 innings of work and threw 14 straight scoreless innings in the tournament.

UCLA sophomore Amanda Freed struck out a career-high-tying 13 batters but fell to 28-8 on the year. The Bruins finished their season with a 46-12-1 record.

Carey, who went 3-for-4 at the plate today, and Braitsch, joined Stewart on the all-tournament team.

OU became just the second non-West Coast team to win a softball national championship (Texas A&M claimed the title in 1983 and 1987).

2000 Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team

Most Outstanding Player - Jennifer Stewart, Oklahoma
Courtney Blades, Southern Mississippi
Kelli Braitsch, Oklahoma
Lisa Carey, Oklahoma
Jaime Clark, Washington
Shavaughne Desecki, DePaul
Amanda Freed, UCLA
Erin Johnson, Southern Mississippi
Kelly Kretschman, Alabama
Julie Marshall, UCLA
Toni Mascarenas, Arizona

Tairia Mims, UCLA

University of Oklahoma Athletics

2000 Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team

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