Errors Plague Sooners In 4-2 WCWS Loss To Golden Bears

May 23, 2002

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Four costly errors by the Oklahoma defense hurt the fifth-seeded Sooners as fourth-seeded California took advantage for a 4-2 win in Game Two of the first day of competition in the Women's College World Series at the A.S.A. Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium. All-American Christina Enea cut the Golden Bears' lead in half in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run homer, her ninth roundtripper of the season, but the team's season single-game high of four errors was too much for OU to overcome. The freshman first baseman was the only Sooner to collect two hits off Cal starter Jocelyn Forest (26-12) and finished with two RBI and a run scored. OU (49-15) dropped their first WCWS opener in the last three years as the Sooners will now face UCLA at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The Oklahoma defense, which had only committed two errors in the last 15 games, broke down in the bottom half of the third frame allowing the Golden Bears to take advantage for three runs. The inning started off poorly as Cal leftfielder Kristen Bayless (0-for-2) reached on an error by OU shortstop Katie Overton (0-for-2) and moved to second base on Overton's second error of the inning. Golden Bears third baseman Candace Harper (1-for-2) made the Sooners pay as she singled home Bayless for the first score. Following an intentional walk to first baseman Veronica Nelson (0-for-0), an error by OU second baseman Tiffany Weight (0-for-2) on a ball put in play by catcher Courtney Scott (0-for-3) allowed two more runs to cross home plate.

In a rarely seen occurrance, the Golden Bears appearred to have scored their fourth run of the frame when pinchrunner Roni Rodrigues made it home just before an inning ending double play. However, the Cal batter Jessica Pamanian (1-for-3) was incorrectly identified on the lineup card turned in at the beginning of the game and was called out on the appeal of the play. All actions that occurred after the at bat were therefore nullified. The Sooners capitalized on the unusual error to force a groundout to second base for the final out.

Oklahoma's fourth error in the game in the fifth inning allowed California to score another unearned run. The Sooners had an opportunity to get out of the inning with a runner on first base and two outs when Pamanian popped out in foul territory and Enea mishandled the potential third out to prolong the inning. Cal shortstop Chelsea Spencer (1-for-3) singled in Nelson two batters later for the 4-0 lead.

All four runs charged to OU starting pitcher Jennifer Stewart (22-7) were unearned. Stewart scattered six hits and matched a career-high with four walks, while striking out three.

Overton was a last second replacement for 63-game starter Kelli Braitsch at shortstop after Braitsch was scratched from the starting lineup after suffering an injury during warmups.

Despite Enea's two-run homer, Forest held Oklahoma's offense in check throughout the game as she sat down 14 batters on strikeouts. Forest scattered five hits and only issued one walk. California (53-19) now advances to play No. 8 seed Florida State tomorrow following the Seminoles upset of the top-seeded Bruins.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Errors Plague Sooners In 4-2 WCWS Loss To Golden Bears

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