No. 18 Texas Sweeps No. 9 Oklahoma In Softball Action

April 14, 2002

Game One Box ScoreGame Two Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. - In battle for first place honors in the Big 12 Conference softball race, No. 18 Texas swept No. 9 Oklahoma, 2-1 and 3-2, in two tight contests Sunday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex. The Longhorns (37-10, 10-1 Big 12) overtook the Sooners (36-10, 9-2 Big 12) for first place and snapped OU's 44-game home unbeaten streak in the process. It marked the third time this season that Oklahoma has lost a one-run game to Texas.

The Sooners lost a tough fought first game, 2-1, in 10 innings. OU starting pitcher Jennifer Stewart (15-4) and UT starter Cat Osterman (24-7) battled in a pitcher's duel as Osterman picked up her second win over Oklahoma this year.

Both pitchers only allowed four baserunners through the first five innings before the Sooners struck first blood in the sixth frame. With Osterman still yet to relinquish a hit, senior leftfielder Christy Ring (1-for-5) broke up the no-hitter to lead off the inning as she beat out a bunt laid down in front of the plate. After stealing second base, Ring came around to score on an error by the Longhorns' third baseman to take a 1-0 lead.

Texas then knotted up the score with a single run in the top of the seventh inning. The Longhorns immediately answered the Sooners' run as UT collected back-to-back hits and third baseman Wynter Turner (1-for-4) crossed home plate on a fielder's choice to tie the score at 1-1.

Texas plated the winning run in the top of the 10th inning when the leadoff runner at second base scored with two outs on a single by shortstop Erin Mahoney (1-for-3).

In game two, Texas rightfielder Deeanna Williams (1-for-3) hit her first home run of the year in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and give the Longhorns their second win of the day.

The Longhorns plated two unearned runs in the fourth inning as an error on the leadoff batter came back to hurt the Sooners. Mahoney (1-for-3) reached base on an error by junior third baseman Leah Gulla (0-for-3) and scored on a two out single by Turner (2-for-3), who eventually came around to score herself on a RBI-single by designated player Melissa Martin (2-for-3).

Oklahoma countered in the bottom of the inning with two runs to tie the score. Freshman first baseman Christina Enea (2-for-3) started the brief rally with a single and moved to second on a single by freshman catcher Heather Scaglione (1-for-3). After Enea and Scaglione both moved up on a wild pitch by UT starter Amy Bradford (12-1), both baserunners scored on a two-base error by Mahoney on a ball put in play by junior shortstop Kelli Braitsch (1-for-3).

Freshman hurler Kami Keiter (9-5) suffered the loss after pitching six inning and giving up eight hits and all three runs. Only one of the three runs charged to Keiter were earned.

OU next faces competition in the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Softball Challenge on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Sooners face Fresno State at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and defending national champion Arizona on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

No. 18 Texas Sweeps No. 9 Oklahoma In Softball Action

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