Tulsa Pops Sooners, 5-4

April 28, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma's dominance over Tulsa came to a bitter end for the Sooners on Senior Night as the Golden Hurricane posted a 5-4 victory at the OU Softball Complex. TU had never beaten Oklahoma in a lopsided series of 24 games prior to Monday evening.

Oklahoma dropped to 38-10 on the season while Tulsa improved to 32-23. The loss also denied OU's bid for the 1,000th win in program history.

Tulsa took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second before OU rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the third. After two groundouts by Tiffany Weight and Jessica Leslie, leadoff batter Kristin Vesely (1-for-2) singled down the left field line to reach first. Down 0-1 in the count, senior Erin Evans (3-for-4) belted her third triple of the season to plate Vesely and waltzed home on a wild pitch by TU starter Ami Day.

TU regained the lead in the top of the sixth. OU starter Nicole Denes walked Stacey Walkingstick to begin the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Kelly Miller pushed Walkingstick to second and she dashed to third on a single by Ashlea Montgomery.

Freshman Dana Askins then replaced Denes on the mound for the Sooners and gave up a run on a wild pitch as Walkingstick crossed home plate. Julie Shafer reached second on an error by Kelli Braitsch that allowed Montgomery to score and TU was up, 4-2, with one out. A sacrifice bunt by Heather Hiar advanced Shafer to third and a wild pitch green-lighted Shafer's dash home.

Oklahoma closed the gap with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Heather Scaglione drew a walk from Day and was replaced on first by pinch runner Lori Shimasaki. This time, Day gave up a wild pitch that advanced Shimasaki to second. Pinch hitter April Valdez provided a spark with a double that scored Shimasaki. Kristin Vesely then drew a walk and Erin Evans singled to RBI Vesely to pull OU within one run, 5-4.

OU was unable to muster a seventh-inning miracle and Tulsa gained its first win over the Sooners.

Nicole Denes took the loss for Oklahoma and dropped to 5-1. Denes gave up six hits and two earned runs while fanning three batters and five walks in 5.1 innings. Ami Day upped her record to 14-11 with the win but gave up seven walks, six hits and four earned runs without a strikeout.

Oklahoma now must regroup for the Big 12 Tournament. OU plays Texas A&M on Friday, May 2, at 11 a.m. at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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