Curtain Falls on 2003 Oklahoma Softball Season

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Oklahoma bowed out of the 2003 Women's College World Series with a 5-2 loss to defending national champion California on Saturday night at Hall of Fame Stadium. The Sooners finished the season with a 47-14 record and a fourth consecutive trip to softball's championship tournament.

"We gave it a good fight and Kami (Keiter) came out and did an incredible job," said OU head coach Patty Gasso. "She had to send the game into the seventh inning. It seems like we get bit in the seventh inning, at least in this tournament against Washington and Cal. Our seniors went out with a bang in this tournament. I am proud of them and the effort of this team. Our goal was to be standing on Sunday and we just came up a little short."

OU took an early, 1-0, lead in the bottom of the first on a one-run double by senior Leah Gulla (1-for-4) that plated senior Kelli Braitsch.

California didn't allow Oklahoma to enjoy its lead for long. The Golden Bears put their first run on the board in the top of the second inning. Chelsea Spencer singled to right field to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a groundout by Kristen Morley. Vicky Galindo then advanced to second on an infield single that scored Spencer.

Cal assumed a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Kaleo Eldredge reached first on a bunt and moved to second on a fielder's choice by Chelsea Spencer after a throwing error by Christina Enea. A sacrifice bunt by Jessica Pamanian pushed both runners ahead and Kristen Morley drew a walk to load the bases for California. A Vicky Galindo single to left field brought Eldredge and Spencer home to give Cal the 3-1 lead.

The Oklahoma seniors would not go down without a fight. On a 2-2 count in the bottom of the fourth, Jennifer Stump (1-for-3) brought the Sooners to within one run, 3-2, with her second homer of the World Series.

The score held until the seventh. With two outs, Kaleo Eldredge drew a walk from OU pitcher Kami Keiter to put a runner on first. Chelsea Spencer then smacked the decisive home run to left field that put the Golden Bears up, 5-2. OU was unable to mount a rally in the bottom of the frame and the curtain fell on the 2003 season for the Sooners.

OU ace Kami Keiter, pitching her third complete game of the WCWS, fanned three batters and walked five while allowing four earned runs on five hits. For Cal, Kristina Thorson gave up two hits and a run in thr first inning before being replaced by Kelly Anderson. Anderson struck out three batters, walked six and allowed two hits and a run in 6.2 innings. Keiter finished the season with a 34-9 record while Anderson improved to 21-11.

Five Oklahoma seniors completed their careers tonight. Kelli Braitsch, Erin Evans, Leah Gulla, Jennifer Stump and Tiffany Weight finished their careers in Oklahoma City at the Women's College World Series.

"I will remember our never-say-die attitude," said Braitsch at the post-game press conference. "We were on a losing streak in the Women's College World Series and we just came out and kept fighting. We knew that if we were going down, we were going down with a fight."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Curtain Falls on 2003 Oklahoma Softball Season

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