Sooners Blank Aggies, 7-0, To Continue Tournament Run

May 17, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. -

Second seeded and 13th-ranked Oklahoma extended their regional winning streak to 10 games with a 7-0 shutout of third-seeded Texas A&M Friday afternoon at the NCAA Softball Regional at the OU Softball Complex. Clinging to a 3-0 lead heading into the final inning of play, Oklahoma's offense exploded for four runs to put the game out of reach. Senior pitcher Jennifer Stewart (20-6) started for the second straight night for the Sooners and blanked the Aggies through the first six innings on five hits. Freshman Kami Keiter came in to close out the seventh inning and put the finishing touches on the Sooners' second shutout of the tournament. The Sooners, who have not lost a regional game since 1999, advance to face the winner of tonight's Texas-Arkansas game tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at the Complex. The 23rd-ranked Aggies (39-17) will also await the outcome of Game Seven to determine their next opponent.

Senior leftfielder Christy Ring was the Sooners' offensive star of the day as she went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored two runs and drove in another. Ring's performance adds to her 2-for-4 effort yesterday against Utah to leave her batting .714 over the two days of the tournament with three runs scored and one RBI. The Venice Beach, Calif., native also drew two walks in the game to tie former Sooner Casey Dickson (1994-1997) at 118 for the school's career walks drawn record. Ring also owns Oklahoma's career stolen bases and runs scored records.

At the top of the first inning, freshman first baseman Christina Enea (1-for-4) began a two-out rally for OU with a single and moved to second base on the Sooners' second consecutive base hit by junior third baseman Leah Gulla (2-for-4). Junior rightfielder Jennifer Stump (1-for-4) followed with Oklahoma's fourth hit of the frame as she laced a double over the leftfielder's head to bring home Enea as the Sooners took an early 1-0 lead.

With the 1-0 lead holding up through three innings, A&M threatened in the bottom of the fourth after catcher Selena Collins scorched a leadoff double to right field. With pinch runner Lauren Ripple standing at third base with one out following a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Kelly Ferguson, centerfielder Cheryl Fowler (1-for-3) drove a pitch into left field which Ring picked up and fired a strike to home plate to nail Ripple at the plate and preserve the one run advantage. Freshman catcher Heather Scaglione (1-for-3) helped the play by making a inpenetrable block of home plate and applying the tag.

After leaving the bases loaded in the fourth inning, the Sooners capitalized on their second straight bases loaded situation in the fifth. Enea drew a leadoff walk and, after the Aggies fended off any further damage with two quick fly outs to left field, A&M reliever Jessica Slataper lost the strike zone and walked the next three batters to load the bases and walk in a run to pad OU's lead at 2-0.

The lead expanded to 3-0 in favor of the Sooners in the next frame as Ring walked to tie the record, stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout to the second baseman by Enea before scoring on a single to left field by Gulla.

Scaglione ignited the Sooners' four-run seventh inning by crushing a solo homer to center field for her ninth roundtripper of the year to lead off the frame. Junior centerfielder Erin Evans (2-for-3) followed with a base hit and scored two batters later on a single by pinch hitter Jessica Leslie (1-for-1). Ring tripled to bring home Leslie for the third run and junior shortstop Kelli Braitsch (0-for-4) grounded out to third base which allowed Ring to come home from third for the final run of the game.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Blank Aggies, 7-0, To Continue Tournament Run

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