Oklahoma Softball Hangs On For 2-1 Win Over Texas A&M

March 24, 2002

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - With runners on the corners for No. 22 Texas A&M and a one-run ballgame in favor of No. 9 Oklahoma in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jennifer Stewart forced the Aggies' catcher to pop out to second base to close out the 2-1 OU victory and give the Sooners a two-game series sweep at the Aggie Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Kami Keiter (6-4) picked up the win after pitching the first six innings of the contest and facing two batters in the seventh before being relieved. Oklahoma improved to 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference and 28-8 overall, while Texas A&M dropped to 24-8 and 0-3 in the conference.

Stewart picked up her second save on the season by recording all three outs in the final frame. The senior lefthander came on with two on and no outs and got the first batter she faced to pop into a double play. After a base hit by leftfielder Adrian Gregory (2-for-3) put runners at first and third base, Stewart got Selena Collins (1-for-4) to pop out for final out of the game.

Despite having runners in scoring position in all seven innings, Keiter pitched her way out of the jams with several key strikeouts and near flawless OU defense. The lefthander finished the game relinquishing seven hits and striking out three. Keiter was also a force for the Sooners at the plate as she went 2-for-3.

The Sooner defense stepped it up in the first inning with the Aggies threatening with runners at the corners and one out. Collins grounded out to junior third baseman Leah Gulla (0-for-3) who promptly tagged the runner at third and threw on to first base to complete the double play and get OU out of the jam.

Oklahoma spotted Keiter two early runs to work with in the third inning. Sophomore first baseman Katie Overton (0-for-2) started things off by reaching first after being hit by a pitch and was moved around on a groundout by junior shortstop Kelli Braitsch (0-for-4) and a single by senior leftfielder Christy Ring (1-for-4) before eventually scoring on a fielder's choice by Gulla. Ring, who had stolen second base and advanced to third on Gulla's fielder's choice, crossed home plate on a RBI single by junior rightfielder Jennifer Stump (1-for-3) to plate the second run and put OU up 2-0.

Texas A&M scored its run in the sixth inning after a hit by pitch to the leadoff batter Gregory came around to hurt the Sooners. A double in the following at bat by Collins advanced Gregory to third and, after OU recorded two quick outs, an error by Braitsch allowed her to score and pull the Aggies to within one run at 2-1.

The Sooners' next game will be at the University of Tulsa on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. at the Hardesty Sports Complex.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Softball Hangs On For 2-1 Win Over Texas A&M

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