Softball Crushes Lehigh 9-2

May 17, 2001

P. Gasso

Lehigh Coach F. Troyan

NORMAN, Okla. - Fifth-ranked Oklahoma (46-7) scored six runs in the fifth inning to move past Lehigh (38-14) in the opening round of the NCAA Region 5 at the OU Softball Complex on Thursday. OU scored nine runs on 12 hits to rally from a 2-1 deficit and earn the 9-2 victory.

The Sooners jumped out to a 1-0 lead off Jennifer Stump's solo homer to right center. With two outs in the top of the third, LU's Kelly Glaser and Shana Treon singled to put runners on first and second. That brought up center fielder Bonnie Hoffman, who doubled to right center and plated two runs for the lead.

That Lehigh lead held until the fifth inning when the Sooners' offense opened up. Consecutive singles by Stump, Erin Evans and Mandy Fulton loaded up the bases for Leah Gulla. That's when Gulla doubled out to center to score Stump and Evans. Senior LaKisha Washington then bunted and beat out the throw to score Fulton in the process.

The top of the order produced another three hits. Sophomore Kelli Braitsch's single to left scored Washington and was followed by an infield single by Christy Ring. Senior Lisa Carey drove in the final run with a hit up the middle.

The final two runs came in the sixth when Evans had a single to second and rounded the bases on Mandy Fulton's home run out to center. It was just her third of the year and capped off the final 9-2 margin.

OU ace Jennifer Stewart (33-3) picked up the win after giving up two runs (both earned) on three hits. The junior struck out six and walked none. Junior Angela Wedlake closed out the game and allowed only a single hit. Lehigh's Stephanie Howell got pegged with the loss after giving up four runs on five hits in four innings of work.

Stump and Fulton each went 2-for-3 on the day and combined for four runs and three RBIs. Gulla had a 1-for-3 performance and drove in two runs.

The Sooners will play again on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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