Softball Crushes Nebraska to Advance to Big 12 Finals

May 11, 2001

OKLAHOMA CITY - Fifth-ranked Oklahoma (44-7) exacted some revenge on No. 11 Nebraska (49-13) with a 10-2 run-rule over the Huskers in the semi-finals of the Big 12 Tournament. The Sooners powered its way past NU with 11 hits, including two home runs, as Nebraska self-destructed with a season-high three errors. It marked the 17th-consecutive win for the Sooners, whose last loss came to the Huskers on Mar. 30.

"We were excited to play this game," said head coach Patty Gasso. "We wanted to send the message that we are a different team than we were earlier in the season. I was very glad to see what Angela Wedlake could do in a pressure situation. This game was very important to us, not only for the championship game, but for regional purposes. This was a tremendous win for us."

Oklahoma got two runs on a pair of hits in the first inning. Junior Christy Ring walked and advanced to second on Ashli Barrett's bloop single to left. Sophomore Jennifer Stump plated one run on a double that flew down the right-field line. That brought up Erin Evans, who reached on an error by pitcher Peaches James as Barrett scored the second run.

Nebraska took a run back when Amber Burgess homered to left center to lead off the second.

The Sooners sent eight batters to the plate in the third and got another four runs. Ring reached on a fielding error by Cindy Roethemeyer and went to second when Lisa Carey had an infield single to the shortstop. It was the 279th hit of Carey's career, breaking the previous record held by Oklahoma State's Jaime Foutch.

Barrett followed her with an RBI single through the right side to score Ring. With two runners on and two outs, senior Mandy Fulton hit a three-run bomb over the left field fence to give OU a 6-1 lead.

In the top of fourth, OU got another two runs. Nebraska starter Peaches James got pulled after Ring doubled to left center and scored Braitsch, who reached on a walk. Carey flied out to right, but put Ring on third and she scored on Barrett's single through the left side. James was tabbed for eight runs (three earned) on seven hits in the three hits.

The Sooners got out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth by giving up just one run. OU starter Jennifer Stewart led off with consecutive walks to Burgess and Jamie Fuente as Wedlake came in with no outs in relief. She walked Amanda Buchholz to load the bases, but then struck out Roethemeyer and Lori Mahnke for the first two outs. Wedlake walked in one run and got out of the inning when Leigh Suhr flied out to left.

Braitsch led off the sixth with a single to left field. With two outs, Barrett homered over the left-field wall to give OU its final 10-2 margin. It was Barrett's 14th home run of the year and 45th of her career, moving her up to a tie for 13th on the NCAA's all-time home run records.

Wedlake picked up her first win on the year after tossing three innings without giving up a hit. She appeared in just her third game for a total of seven innings and has yet to allow a run. Stewart closed out the game with two runs on three hits in three innings. She struck out three and walked a pair in the no-decision.

Barrett led the offensive output with a 4-for-4 display that included two runs and four RBIs. Fulton went 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs.

It will be the third-consecutive year the No. 1 seed won't play in for the tournament championship. OU will play in the title game for the fifth time in six years.

The Sooners will play for the Big 12 Tournament title on Saturday at 3 p.m. They will face the winner of the Oklahoma State-Texas Tech game that began at approximately 8:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Softball Crushes Nebraska to Advance to Big 12 Finals

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