Sooner Softball Advances To Fourth Straight College World Series

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma softball team clinched a fourth straight trip to the College Softball World Series with a 7-2 defeat of Oregon State on Sunday afternoon at the NCAA Region Four Championships in Gainsville, Fla. All-Regional Team members Kami Keiter, Kelly Braitsch and Leah Gulla helped the Sooners become the first OU squad to advance to the series from a regional outside of Norman.

Oklahoma got on the board in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by catcher Heather Scaglione that plated sophomore Christina Enea. After the Beavers tied the game in the bottom half of the second, the Sooners responded with a five run rally in the top of the third.

Regional Co-MVP Leah Gulla got the rally started in the third with a one out sacrifice fly that scored sophomore April Valdez. Senior Kelly Braitsch followed two batters later with a two-run double to right center that scored Enea and sophomore Kristin Vesely. Scaglione followed with an infield single, advancing Braitsch to third base. Scaglione promptly attempted to steal second on a passed ball and ended up swiping third as well when the catcher's throw sailed into the outfield. Braitsch strolled home on the throwing error. Keiter would end the offensive assault with a single to right that plated Scaglione.

Scaglione picked up her second rbi of the day in the fifth when she singled down the right field line scoring Enea, putting the Sooners up 7-2. Keiter surrendered just one hit in the final three frames and finished the afternoon with four strikeouts while giving up just one earned run. The sophomore improved to 33-7 on the season, while the Sooners stand at 46-12 heading into the SCWS.

OU returns to Oklahoma City and the SCWS for the fourth consecutive season, doing so in the same fashion as the prior three seasons. The Sooners have run the table in NCAA regionals the last four seasons, good for a perfect 16-0 record in the elimination tournament.

At press time California, Washington and Texas had clinched berths with the Sooners to the College World Series. The SCWS begins Thursday, May 22, with the Championship game on Monday, May 26 at the Don Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Team press conferences will begin on Wednesday at 12:30 at the ballpark.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Softball Advances To Fourth Straight College World Series

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