Sooners Upset 3-1 By Jayhawks In Big 12 Tournament

May 2, 2002

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - In first round action of the Big 12 Softball Tournament on Thursday evening, No. 2 seed Oklahoma was upset, 3-1, by the seventh seeded Kansas Jayhawks at Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium. With the 12th-ranked Sooners carrying a slim 1-0 lead through four innings, the Jayhawks captured the lead with a two-run fifth inning and held on for their first win in the last 11 meetings between the two teams. OU fell to 42-13 overall and will meet eighth seeded Iowa State tomorrow in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. on the main field at Hall of Fame Stadium. KU improved to 33-23 and advanced to face the winner of the Oklahoma State-Nebraska game tomorrow.

The tournament started off well for the Sooners as they scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning to give them an early lead. Junior shortstop Kelli Braitsch (0-for-2) reached first base after being hit by a pitch and two straight singles by freshman Christina Enea (1-for-2) and junior third baseman Leah Gulla (1-for-3) loaded the bases with one out. A pass ball by the Jayhawks' catcher allowed Braitsch to hustle home from third for the initial run.

Oklahoma senior pitcher Jennifer Stewart (18-6) sat down 12 of the first 14 batters she faced before running into trouble in the fifth inning. Kansas got a clutch two-out double by centerfielder Shelly Musser (1-for-4) to plate their first two runs and take the lead for good.

The Jayhawks then manufactured an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning to help preserve the upset victory. Winning pitcher Serena Settlemier (12-7) capped off a 2-for-2 performance with a leadoff walk and moved around the bases after a hit, sacrifice and crossed home plate on an infield single by catcher Dani May (1-for-2).

With the Sooners looking to rally in the bottom of the seventh, Kansas recorded two quick outs on a foul out to the catcher and a strikeout before senior leftfielder Christy Ring (1-for-2) kept the game alive with a two-out single. However, Ring was left stranded on first base when Settlemier struck out Braitsch to end the threat and the game.

The Sooners were hurt by leaving runners stranded in scoring position as they failed to get the three runners home. Stewart was charged with the loss after working the first six innings and giving up all three runs on five hits.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Upset 3-1 By Jayhawks In Big 12 Tournament

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