Softball Suffers Texas Sweep

April 12, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas - No. 5 Texas completed the series sweep over No. 4 Oklahoma with a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon in front of a record crowd at McCombs Field in Austin.

With the bases loaded in the top of the fifth and facing two outs, the Sooners (32-8, 8-5 Big 12) took the initial 1-0 lead when UT pitcher Amy Bradford walked Heather Scaglione to push Kristin Vesely across home plate.

Bradford regrouped to fan Kelli Braitsch for the final out and Texas escaped the fifth down just one run.

The Longhorns (32-7, 9-2 Big 12) evened the score in the sixth stanza.

UT centerfielder Tina Boutelle singled (3-for-4) to left field on a 1-0 count to lead off the inning for Texas. Shortstop Chez Sievers (1-for-4) then hit another single to push Boutelle to second.

Wynter Turner advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt. OU pitcher Kami Keiter intentionally walked UT designated player Tamara Poppe and the bases were loaded.

On a 2-1 count, UT's Alexis Garcia (2-for-3) singled through the left side to RBI Boutelle.

OU's defense stiffened to deny Texas another run. Keiter fanned pinch hitter Amber Hall for the second out and shortstop Kelli Braitsch made a spectacular leaping catch of a hit by UT's Marlo Hanks to send the teams to the seventh with the score deadlocked, 1-1.

The Sooner batters were unable to register a hit against Bradford in the top of the final frame and Texas took the plate for a chance to seal the game.

Keiter struck out Sarah Stelly for the first out but walked lead off hitter Lindsay Gardner to give Texas a base runner. Tina Boutelle then belted her third hit of the game and advanced to second as OU failed in an attempt to throw Gardner out at third base.

Chez Sievers got off a clean bunt that rolled towards first. Keiter was unable to scoop up the ball and Gardner scurried across the plate for the game-winner.

Keiter dropped to 22-4 on the season with the loss. The lefty fanned five batters, walked five and gave up one earned run. Texas pitcher Amy Bradford (9-2) struck out eight batters, walked six and allowed one run.

With the sweep of Oklahoma, Texas assumes the lead for the regular-season conference crown.

The Sooners return to Norman to host Oklahoma City in a rescheduled game on Tuesday, April 15 at 6 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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