Oklahoma Survives 2-1 Game At Kansas

April 28, 2001

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Seventh-ranked Oklahoma (39-7, 13-2 Big 12) scored a run in the top of the seventh to break a tie and defeat 2-1 Kansas (30-22, 9-5) on Saturday in front of a season-high crowd of 783 fans at Jayhawk Field. The Sooners extended their winning streak to 12 games as OU starter Jennifer Stewart (27-3) went the distance and limited the KU to just four hits while striking out two.

Kansas starter Kara Pierce (20-8) -- who lost for the first time in 13 decisions -- kept the Sooners in check with just four hits in the first six innings. She gave up back-to-back singles in the seventh, but it was ultimately a pair of walks that cost KU the game. Pierce struck out six and gave up two runs on two hits in the complete-game outing.

Oklahoma got on the board first with a single run in the third inning. With two outs and a runner on third, senior Lisa Carey singled up the middle to score LaKisha Washington and give OU a 1-0 lead.

With just one out, the Sooners got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth when Stewart got second baseman Amy Hulse to ground into a double play. Stewart threw out third baseman Megan Urquhart at home and Ashli Barrett fired the ball to Carey at first to get the 1-2-3 double play.

The Jayhawks evened the score in the fifth when designated hitter Katie Campbell led off with a double to right center. Pinch runner Mel Wallach advanced to third on a Leah Hansen sacrifice bunt back to Stewart and scored when Shelly Musser singled out to left center.

OU put two runners in scoring position in the seventh that started with Erin Evans bunted for a base hit to get on first. She advanced to second when Barrett singled through the left side. Sophomore Leah Gulla advanced both runners over on a sacrifice bunt, but Washington struck out. With two outs, the Jayhawks intentionally walked Kelli Braitsch to load the bases, but it back-fired when Pierce also walked Christy Ring to bring home the winning run.

Kansas' last chance came in the bottom of the seventh. After Hulse grounded out to second, Campbell singled down the left-field line to put a runner on. Pinch hitter Sandy Smith came into the game and flew out to center for out No. 2 and Erin Garvey grounded out to Stewart to end the game.

The Sooners and Jayhawks will wrap up their two-game series with a final game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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