11th-ranked Oklahoma Softball Downs Kansas, 6-3

April 20, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma's 11th-ranked softball team downed the Kansas Jayhawks, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon in the first game of a two-game series between the schools at the OU Softball Complex this weekend. Junior third baseman Leah Gulla paced the Sooners offensively with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate while scoring two runs and driving in three more. Gulla also recorded her team-leading 12th home run of the season in the game as freshman starting pitcher Kami Keiter improved to 10-6 overall with the win. OU's record improved to 37-12 overall and 10-2 in the Big 12 Conference, while KU fell to 29-20 overall and 5-8 in the league.

Both teams scored their first two runs on a two-run homer. Kansas put up their two spot in the top of the first inning when centerfielder Shelley Musser (0-for-2) led off the game with a walk and crossed home plate on the front end of rightfielder Leah Tabb's (1-for-3) two-run shot. Just as Kansas had gotten on the board in the first inning, OU's junior rightfielder Jennifer Stump (1-for-2) walked to lead off the bottom of the second frame and scored on Gulla's home run in the next at bat.

The Sooners went up 5-2 with a three-run third frame to extend their lead. With one out, freshman catcher Heather Scaglione (0-for-3) began a rally by drawing a walk followed by two consecutive singles by Stump and Gulla which brought Scaglione around from first to break the tie. Junior shortstop Kelli Braitsch (2-for-2) followed with the second walk of the inning to load the bases before Keiter delivered a single to plate Stump. Some heads up base running by Gulla scored the fifth run as she came home during a run down of Braitsch at second base following Keiter's single.

OU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning after KU changed pitchers for the third time in the game. The Sooners welcomed Kirsten Milhoan to the game with a leadoff double by junior second baseman Tiffany Weight (1-for-1) who scored on a follow up single by senior leftfielder Christy Ring (1-for-2) to make it 6-2.

Kansas made a valiant effort to make a comeback in the top of the seventh after plating a run to make it 6-3 after two hits were recorded, but Keiter struck out pinch hitter Katie Campbell (0-for-1) to strand a runner at first base and end the game.

After the Jayhawks tagged Keiter for the two runs in the first inning, the freshman recovered to retire 17 of the next 19 batters before Kansas got on the scoreboard again in the seventh frame. Keiter allowed only five hits, one walk and struck out two in her seventh complete game effort of the season.

The two teams meet again in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the special promotion for the day is Fan Appreciation Day where team trading cards will be given away.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

11th-ranked Oklahoma Softball Downs Kansas, 6-3

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