No. 9 Sooners Gig No. 22 Aggies, 6-1, In Softball Action

March 23, 2002

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The ninth-ranked Oklahoma softball team opened its Big 12 Conference schedule Saturday afternoon with a 6-1 victory over No. 22 Texas A&M at the Aggie Softball Complex. Leading 1-0, OU extended its lead by plating five more runs in the fifth inning, including four with two outs. Jennifer Stewart improved to 13-3 on the mound for the Sooners who's record moved to 27-8 overall and 1-0 in the league. The Aggies fell to 24-7 overall and 0-2 with the loss.

Senior leftfielder Christy Ring (2-for-3) became the program's all-time stolen base leader with three stolen bases in the game. Ring, who was tied with former Sooner LaKisha Washington heading into the game, became the sole owner of the record when she swiped her 75th career base in the third inning. Ring's three stolen bases were one shy of the OU single game record of four.

The Sooners squandered an early scoring threat in the second inning after getting two runners on base with no outs. Junior fightfielder Jennifer Stump (1-for-2) drew a leadoff walk and reached second base in the next at bat when she beat the throw to the bag on a fielder's choise by freshman catcher Heather Scaglione (0-for-3). A&M starter Jessica Slataper (12-5), who finished the game with eight strikeouts, then proceeded to strikeout the following three batters to end the inning and the threat.

OU did not repeat the same mistake in the next inning as it cashed in with runners in scoring position to go ahead 1-0 in the third frame. After getting its first two batters on base for the second consecutive inning, the Sooners loaded the bases with two outs when Stump drew her second run of the game. Then a passed ball by A&M catcher Selena Collins (1-for-3) allowed Braitsch to score from third.

Braitsch ignited the five run fifth inning with a leadoff home run to center field, her fourth of the season and third in the last week. The Sooners then loaded the bases as three of the next four batters reached base and, with two outs, scored a run when a walk to freshman designated player Kami Keiter (0-for-3) forced in a run. Junior centerfielder Erin Evans (1-for-4) then cleared the bases with a triple to close out the scoring for the Sooners in the inning.

The Aggies prevented the shutout by scoring a single run in the sixth inning as back-to-back doubles by the first two A&M hitters accounted for the lone score.

The Sooners made several key defensive plays in the first three innings to keep the Aggies off the scoreboard. In the first frame, after the leadoff batter, second baseman Lisa Klam (1-for-3), tripled and Collins reached first base two batters later, Klam was picked off on an attempted double steal to record the third out of the inning and get out of the early jam. Similarly, in the third inning, with baserunners on third and second, Braitsch made a diving stop to her right and, from her knees, threw out the runner at the plate.

OU's heads up defensive plays continued late into the game. With runners on first and second in the fifth inning, Aggies third baseman Jennifer Davis (1-for-2) rounded third base on a base hit by Collins and was thrown out after Ring started a rundown between third base and home plate which also involved junior third baseman Leah Gulla (0-for-3) and Scaglione.

The two teams will conclude the two-game set tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

No. 9 Sooners Gig No. 22 Aggies, 6-1, In Softball Action

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