Completed Event: Softball at #12/14 Texas A&M on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 8
Final
Softball
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at #12/14 Texas A&M
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Softball Drops 5-4 Decision To Top-Seeded Arizona
May 25, 2001 | Softball
May 25, 2001
pitcher J. Stewart
outfielder J. Stump
shortstop K. Braitsch
second baseman L. Washington
OKLAHOMA CITY - Fifth-ranked Oklahoma (50-8) built a 4-0 lead on home runs, but top-ranked and top-seeded Arizona (63-4) mounted a comeback with two of its own to defeat the Sooners in an extra-inning affair in the Women's College World Series. The loss ended OU's 23-game winning streak and extended the 'Cats own to 24 games.
Arizona starter Jennie Finch (31-0) remained perfect on the year after giving up a season-high 10 hits and striking out nine. OU's Jennifer Stewart (37-4) was credited with the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on just seven hits.
The Oklahoma bats started coming around in the fourth inning when Christy Ring led off with a single to left. Senior Lisa Carey reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop that got Ring out. Finch then went up 2-0 in the count on Ashli Barrett but followed with four straight balls to walk her.
That brought up Jennifer Stump, who was up 2-1 in the count and sailed a ball to right center for a three-run homer and the 3-0 lead. It was her 11th long ball of the year.
Another run came courtesy of LaKisha Washington in the fifth. The senior blasted a ball to the deepest part of center field for just her second homer of the year. Both of her home runs have come in the postseason with the other coming against North Carolina in NCAA regional play on May 18.
Arizona closed the gap with its own home run in the sixth. With runners on first and second, third baseman Toni Mascarenas homered to left center to narrow the margin at 4-3. The 'Cats tied it in the seventh at 4-4 when freshman Mackenzie Vandergeest pounded a solo shot to right center.
OU got two hits in the seventh with two outs, but stranded both runners and had to go to extra innings when Carey's foul fly was caught by Mascarenas.
UA took advantage of an Oklahoma miscue to score the winning run in the top of the eighth. Senior Nicole Giordano led off with a single to center and reached second on Mascarenas' sacrifice bunt. The Sooners' intentionally walked Leneah Manuma to put runners on first and second with one out.
Finch to hit a ground ball to Washington, who threw to Kelli Braitsch to get the second out. But Braitsch went for the double play and her throw sailed left of Carey and first and allowed Giordano to score.
The Sooners loaded the bases in the final inning, but couldn't put a run on the board. With one out, Stump hit a ball off Finch's glove and beat the throw to first. She went to second on Erin Evans' single through the right side and both runners advanced when Leah Gulla watched a ball four sail over home plate.
Washington had the Sooners' final chance and hit a ball to shortstop Allison Andrade, who fielded the ball and barely got the throw to first to beat out Washington for the final out.
The Sooners will now face the winner of the Iowa-LSU game in an elimination contest on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The game will be carried live on ESPN with Michele Tafoya on play-by-play, Tracy Warren on color and Ellen Weinberg serving as the roving reporter.
Sunday, May 24
Saturday, May 23
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
