Missed Opportunites Cost OU

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Washington used a two-run double in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 deadlock and hand Oklahoma a 3-1 loss in the opening round of the Women's College World Series at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City Thursday afternoon. The Sooners drop into the loser's bracket and face Alabama in the elimination game Saturday at 11 a.m.

"Obviously we're disappointed because we know the first game is critical to continue in this tournament," said head coach Patty Gasso after the game. "We were ready, we were prepared. We did everything to get ready for it. I thought we had a good game plan. I thought Kami did a good job of executing. Jaime Clark is a great hitter and Kami Keiter is a great pitcher. But Keiter isn't going to win all of those battles. So we give that one up to Clark. I felt, for us, it was a game of missed opportunities. We sort of ran ourselves out of a couple of innings and that was hard for us to take. If we're going to go down we don't want to lose that way."

Oklahoma (46-13) took an early, 1-0, lead in the bottom of the third on a solo home run by designated player Jennifer Stump (1-for-2). As the leadoff batter in the third, Stump connected on a 1-1 count for her third roundtripper of the season, much to the delight of the Sooner faithful filling the stands at Hall of Fame Stadium.

"I was the leadoff batter that time so I was just trying to find a way to get on base," said Stump. "I had a 1-2 count so I knew I had to battle. No matter where the ball was pitched, if it was close enough to where it was a strike I was going to swing. And I happened to hit it."

The Huskies (47-14-1) countered with a solo home run of their own in the next inning to even the score, 1-1. Shortstop Jaime Clark (2-for-3) sent the ball over the left field wall on a 1-1 count from OU pitcher Kami Keiter.

The teams traded scoreless innings until the fateful final stanza. Washington's Amanda Oleson doubled to plate Aimee Minor and pinch runner Traci Tawney for the 3-1 lead.

With one out, OU's All-American Leah Gulla (1-for-3) hit her 16th double of the year and was replaced at second by pinch runner Jessica Leslie. Leslie advanced to third on a Christina Enea groundout but was stranded when Kelli Braitsch grounded out to UW shortstop Jaime Clark.

Oklahoma next plays Alabama, a 3-2 loser to Arizona, in the elimination game on Saturday at 11 a.m.

"Our girls are hurting right now and they feel very disappointed because they know how important that first game was," said Gasso. "Now we are just kind of in the gutter and we're just fighting to work our way out of it. These players have a lot of heart and they won't quit and you'll see a team ready to play on Saturday. Last year we were out in two and it's something (our players) still talk about with frustration. We're going to give it everything we have."

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and can also be followed via the internet at SoonerSports.com.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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