Softball Shuts Out Texas A&M 8-0

March 24, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma softball team picked up where it left off and shut out No. 20 Texas A&M 8-0 on Saturday. The Sooners (27-5, 2-0 Big 12) swept the two-game series with the Aggies (23-8, 0-2) en route to collecting 10 hits.

"I'm very excited about this team," said head coach Patty Gasso. "They're doing exactly what we planned. They sent a tremendous message to the Big 12 that we're ready to go. It was good to see us come out and score early."

The Sooners dominated all aspects of the game. The offense scored four runs in the second inning, another three in the fifth and capped off the run-rule with a final run in the sixth. From the mound, starter Jennifer Stewart (18-2) limited the Aggies to just four hits and struck out eight in the shutout.

"Jennifer looked good from the start," Gasso said. "She came out and took the bats right out of the A&M's hands today. She was striking out hitters and threw a real good mix."

OU jumped out quickly on A&M, getting four runs off four hits in the second. The bottom of the order led off with four-consecutive singles, including LaKisha Washington's RBI shot to right field that scored Jennifer Stump. With the bases loaded, Christy Ring hit a ball to pitcher Lindsay Wilhemson, who got the force at home.

Sophomore Kelli Braitsch kept the rally alive when she pounded a single up the middle to score Erin Evans and Washington. The final run of the inning came when OU executed a double steal that scored Ring when Braitsch left for second and slid under the tag.

The Aggies put runners in scoring position in the fourth inning when Stewart hit Crystal Martin, Wilhelmson singled and Jennifer Davis walked to load the bases. But Stewart got Angie Shetler to swing at a strike three to get out of the inning.

Senior Lisa Carey walked and Ashli Barrett singled to left center to put runners on in the fifth. After Washington sacrificed them over with a bunt, an illegal pitch by reliever Jessica Slataper scored Carey and sent Barrett to third. After Stump walked to get on base, Evans hit a double of the left-field wall to plate the last two runs of the inning.

The run rule was complete in the sixth when Braitsch walked and Carey drove her home on a double to left.

Eight different Sooners had hits and were led by two-hit performances from Carey, Barrett and Evans. The three also combined for two runs and three RBIs. Braitsch went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a run.

Wilhemson (7-2) was credited with the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits in just 1 1/3 innings on the mound. Slataper tossed the final four innings, gave up four mmore runs on three hits while walking four and striking out another four.

Oklahoma will continue Big 12 action on Tuesday against Missouri. The Sooners and Tigers will play a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m at the OU Softball Complex. The second game will begin at approximately 7 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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