Softball Sweeps Red River Rivalry With 7-4 Win Over Texas

April 8, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - Seventh-ranked Oklahoma (32-7, 7-2 Big 12) held off all rallies to complete a two-game sweep of Texas (19-21, 2-6) on Sunday. The Sooners defeated UT 7-4 and have won the last six meetings with the Longhorns.

Freshman Adrianne Ratliff earned the start and limited UT to just four hits in the first four innings. But after giving up a double to the lead-off hitter in the fifth, junior Jennifer Stewart was called to come in and preserve the 5-2 lead.

"Adrianne did a very nice job," said head coach Patty Gasso. "It's been a while since she's been in a full game. If the defense is standing behind her, some of those hits are outs, but I'm very happy with her performance."

The defense struggled to be consistent, committing a season-high five errors. Two of those came in the second inning that resulted in one run. Another in the sixth led to another score and two more miscues in the seventh happened early and OU was able to get out without allowing another run.

Ratliff (11-3) got the win after giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and striking out three. Stewart recorded her second save on the year after tossing three innings that allowed two runs on three hits.

Four walks and two wild pitches in the first two innings put Texas starter Natalie King immediately in the hole. The Sooners put two runners on in the first with back-to-back walks to Christy Ring and Lisa Carey. Catcher Ashli Barrett reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop Tamara Poppe, but Ring scored when Poppe's throw sailed errant.

Following another base on balls to right fielder Jennifer Stump, she and Barrett each advanced on a wild pitch. Designated player Andrea Davis stepped up with a two-run double to left center to close out the scoring in the first.

Texas scored an unearned run in the second when catcher Marlo Hanks led off with a single up the middle. She advanced when Ratliff errored on Poppe's hit back to the circle and went to third on a LaKisha Washington throw that sailed past third baseman Leah Gulla.

The two runs in the second inning came on a Carey sacrifice fly out to left and a King wild pitch. OU had at least one hit in each of the six innings and had 10 on the day. The Sooners scored the final runs in the sixth on a Mandy Fulton double to left and a Carey single to center.

Carey's RBI was the 167th of her career and broke the school record previously held by Casey Dickson (1994-97).

With the loss, King dropped to 8-11 on the year. Her final line included five runs (three earned) on three hits and five walks. Senior Charla Moore relieved the freshman in the third and limited OU to just two runs on seven hits while striking out five.

Center fielder Erin Evans had three of the Sooners' 10 hits and scored a run while Fulton also went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Oklahoma will face Texas Tech in two games next weekend. The Sooners and Red Raiders will face off in single games at the Rose Montford Complex in Lubbock. Friday's game will begin at 2 p.m. and Saturday's game is noon.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Softball Sweeps Red River Rivalry With 7-4 Win Over Texas

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