Oklahoma 4, Texas A&M 0 (9 Innings)

May 2, 2003

No. 4 seed Oklahoma relied on starting pitcher Kami Keiter for both its defense and offense in a thrilling 4-0 nine- inning victory over No. 5 seed Texas A&M at the Big 12 Softball Tournament. Keiter pitched a seven-hit shutout while striking out seven A&M batters and furnished the Sooners' only run production by belting a one-out grand slam shot over the right field fence. The homer was Keiter's sixth of the season while the sophomore improved to 27-5 in the circle.

Aggie pitcher Lindsay Wilhelmson pitched an eight-inning gem before running into trouble in the ninth. OU's Christina Enea hit a leadoff double and Jennifer Stump followed with a walk. An Erin Evans groundout advanced Sooner pinch runners to second and third. After a Scaglione walk, Keiter smacked a 2-1 pitch for the game-winner.

Wilhelmson gave up five hits in 8.1 innings and struck out four Sooners in dropping to 16-6 on the year. Enea and Kristin Vesely, who both recorded two hits, were theh only Sooners to notch hits besides Keiter.

Oklahoma will take on No. 1 seed and defending tourney champ Texas today at 5:30 p.m. while A&M will face Texas Tech in an elimination game at 3 p.m.

Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso
On Kami Keiter's grand slam in the ninth:
"It usually seems like when we come to the Big 12 we find dramatic ways to do things. I was really happy to see Kami (Keiter) be the one to help herself in the game and hit that ball hard like that. We persevered. We didn't look good early at the plate but we just kept plugging. As long as Keiter kept performing and the defense held, we had a chance to win. It was just a matter of time."

On Keiter's pitching performance:
"She got timely outs for us. They had runners in scoring position early but she was clutch and got some key outs. Seven hits were a little bit high for her but some of them weren't hit real hard. Everything was in front of us and nothing got past us. As long as that happens, we can make those plays. She kept us alive when our offense wasn't there."

Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans
On the loss:
"I thought our kids played really well today and certainly had a chance to win over OU. We left a lot of runners in scoring position."

On today's elimination game against Texas Tech:
"I watched them last night and they were agressive at the plate. We know we have to come out and play good defense against them. We know their pitcher is going to throw in and out and has a good change up. We'll have to be disciplined at the plate. We know every game we play here is going to be tough."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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