Softball Knocks Out Iowa State

April 1, 2001

AMES, Iowa - The sixth-ranked Oklahoma softball team picked up a pair of wins with a two-game sweep of Iowa State on Sunday afternoon. The Sooners (29-7, 4-2 Big 12) recorded double-digit hits in each of the two games to defeat the Cyclones (9-16, 0-2) 11-2 and 13-3.

OU scored eight runs in the fifth inning en route to an 11-2 win in game one. The offense produced 14 hits, but the defense sputtered with four errors.

Starter Jennifer Stewart (19-3) tossed five innings in the win and gave up the two runs on four hits. Senior Lisa Carey finished up the final two innings and held the Cyclones scoreless on just two hits.

Sophomore Kelli Braitsch led the lineup with a 4-for-4 performance that included one run and two RBIs. Carey went 2-for-3, including a two-run home run to left center in the seventh. Sophomore Erin Evans added another three hits and senior LaKisha Washington went 2-for-3 with two runs, both runs and hits coming in the fifth inning.

The fifth frame got started when Washington singled up the middle. Junior Christy Ring, who was credited with no at-bats after three walks and a sacrifice bunt, reached on a second baseman error and Braitsch had an RBI single up the middle. After Carey walked, senior Ashli Barrett homered to left center to clear the bases.

Senior Andrea Davis had a pinch hit single to center field, but was followed by a pair of outs. Washington singled for the second time in the inning and singles by Evans, Braitsch and Carey drove in the final three runs.

OU posted a single run in the first with a bases-loaded sac fly by Mandy Fulton to right that scored Ring. The final two runs came in the seventh on Carey's fifth round tripper of the year.

Iowa State's runs came in the fifth on a Morgan LeCluyse single and Lauren Cathey sacrifice fly.

The Sooners scored another 13 runs on 15 hits to defeat the Cyclones 13-3 in game two. Freshman Adrianne Ratliff raised her record to 10-3 with her first start since March 20. She scattered 10 hits and allowed three runs in the complete-game outing. Martinez took the loss after giving up 10 runs on 12 hits in six complete innings.

OU got on the board in the third and scored all five runs with two outs. Sophomore Leah Gulla led off with a double to center and Ring walked. After Carey singled to load the bases, Barrett walked in the first run. Sophomore Jennifer Stump took care of the remaining runners with a grand slam to left center.

Washington singled up the middle to lead off the fourth and was followed by Ring's sixth walk of the afternoon. Carey scored both runners with a single up the middle as OU raised its lead to 7-0.

The fifth inning added another run when Braitsch doubled out to center to score Ring, who reached on another walk. The Cyclones answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth when Cathey singled up the middle to score LeCluyse and Erica Martinez.

With one out in the sixth inning, Stump pulled a ball over the right field wall for her second homer of the day to give OU a 9-2 lead. But ISU notched another run in the sixth when Kimi Yoshizawa singled to score Martinez, who reached after getting hit by a pitch.

Barrett added another four runs in the seventh with a grand slam straight out to center.

Carey and Stump each had three hits in the game and combined for three runs and seven RBIs.

The Sooners return home for Bedlam against Oklahoma State. OU and OSU will battle at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the OU Softball Complex. The game will be televised by Sooner Sports Properties and will be carried on radio by KREF 1400 AM and www.soonersports.com.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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