UAB Bounces Sooners, 6-5

Feb. 14, 2003

Norman, Okla. - In a dramatic conclusion to the first day of the OU/Nike Classic, the UAB Blazers overtook No. 8 Oklahoma in the final stanza to hand the Sooners a 6-5 loss.

OU, trailing for most of the game after allowing four UAB runs in the first inning, used a clutch homer by senior Kelli Braitsch to go up 5-4 in the top of the seventh. Braitsch drove in April Valdez to give OU the go-ahead score.

The Sooners had crept back in to the game with two runs in the third and one more in the sixth setting up Braitsch's home run.

Valdez reached in the third on an error by UAB's Candice Hithe and scored when freshman Kristin Vesely (1-for-4) tripled. Vesely would score when Braitsch grounded out to second base.

In the sixth, senior Leah Gulla doubled and Nickie Holt came in to pinch run for Gulla. Holt advanced to third on a passed ball and scored when senior Jennifer Stump (1-for-3) singled to right field.

OU was then down 4-3 before Braitsch's homer lifted Oklahoma to a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

But the Blazers would answer the challenge. UAB's Kris Lara singled to drive in second baseman Beth Mullins and left fielder Cliffanie Engram scored the game-winning run when it was ruled she had experienced pitcher interference as she ran home.

The win moved UAB to 2-2 on the season and dropped the Sooners to 4-2.

The OU/Nike Classic continues Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. with a double-header between Creighton and UAB. The Sooners return to the field for a double-header with Long Beach State at 2:30 and 4:45 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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