Oklahoma Softball Stifled By Alabama Hurler

Feb. 22, 2002

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Alabama starting pitcher Shelley Laird was nearly unhittable Friday night as the 18th-ranked Crimson Tide handed the fourth-ranked Sooners their first loss of the season, 6-1, in their second game of the day in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Laird (4-3) struck out 14 Sooners and did not give up a hit until the sixth inning. Oklahoma's record moved to 12-1, while Alabama improved to 8-7.

Stewart (4-1), who became OU's all-time leader with her 110th career start, countered with a valiant pitching effort of her own before running into trouble in the fourth and seventh innings. Two of the three Alabama runs in the third frame were unearned due to a costly Sooner error and home runs accounted for the Crimson Tides' scores in the seventh. Outside of the two three-run innings, Stewart faced one batter over the minimum in only one of the other five innings.

Senior Christy Ring (1-for-3) broke up the no-hitter with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double to left field. Ring also broke up the shutout two batters later when she scored on a base hit by freshman Christina Enea (1-for-1). Up until Ring's hit, Enea was the only Sooner to reach base when she drew walks in the first and fourth innings.

Alabama put the game out of reach with three runs on two home runs in the top of the seventh frame. Crimson Tide centerfielder Jackie Wilkins (2-for-3) led off the inning with a solo homer and second baseman Suzanne Olcott (1-for-4) hit a two-run shot later in the inning.

The team will conclude pool play tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. against Wisconsin before beginning bracket play later in the day.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Softball Stifled By Alabama Hurler

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