Unlucky 13th Inning Dooms Sooners In Big 12 Tourney

OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma softball team came out on the losing end of the second-longest game in Big 12 Tournament history as it fell 3-2 to Missouri in 13 innings on Saturday afternoon at Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. Missouri left fielder Morgan LeCluyse eliminated the Sooners from tourney play with a game-winning two-out single in the bottom of the 13th.

The Oklahoma softball team fell to 40-19-1 on the season and awaits a birth in the NCAA Regionals. The regional announcements will be made Sunday at 7:30 p.m., on ESPN News. The eight regional hosts are Georgia, Florida State, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Baylor, Nebraska and Michigan.

“I think Kami (Keiter) really threw her guts out,” said Gasso. “I'm really excited about her effort, especially going into the regional next week. That was a dominating performance for 13 innings. It was very impressive. We didn't get anything clutch when we needed it. We didn't execute very well, but our defense was sparkling. We took some good things out of today.”

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OU ace Kami Keiter threw 150 pitches (93 strikes) in 12.2 innings of work. Keiter allowed three earned runs on five hits and struck out nine batters. She worked 26.2 innings against Missouri this season and only allowed seven hits during that span. Missouri hit .084 against Keiter this season with seven hits in 93 plate appearances.

“This does give me confidence,” said Keiter. “It is a very tough loss, but it was one of my better performances. The season comes down to one weekend and that is up next at regionals. I know we can come together and make a run.”

Keiter drove in her second run in as many days to put OU up 1-0 in the second inning. The RBI single plated Jamie Fox, who reached on a leadoff double. Keiter had the game-winning single to eliminate Kansas on Friday night.

Missouri responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Tiger right fielder Sarah Stringer grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice to score the initial run. The next batter, left fielder Morgan LeCluyse picked up an RBI of her own with another fielder's choice. As the second Tiger runner scored, center fielder Leanne Bowers wandered too far off third base and was picked off by Christina Enea to abruptly end the inning.

The two scores in the third inning snapped a streak of 16.1 scoreless innings against Missouri for Keiter.

Keiter started the game-tying rally in the top of the seventh inning with a leadoff single. Freshman Amber Spaulding pinch ran and raced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stacia Aleman. A single through the left side by Norrelle Dickson knotted the game at 2-2.

Keiter held the Tiger's hitless from the fourth to the 11th inning, a span of eight full frames. She only allowed six balls out of the infield in taking the loss and falling to 17-12 on the season.

Missouri ace Erin Kalka started the game and was relieved by freshman Erica Peterson after 6.1 innings of work. Peterson picked up the win and improved to 3-2 on the season. Missouri will play Nebraska at 6 p.m. for the Big 12 Championship.

“We'll take it into regionals and try to do it one more time,” commented Gasso. “If we do things right and put some things together, we could be right back here for the College World Series.”

OU rides a 16-game regional championship winning streak into next weekend. Regionals begin Thursday, May 20 and run through Sunday, May 23. OU has made appearances in four consecutive Women's College World Series.

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Unlucky 13th Inning Dooms Sooners In Big 12 Tourney

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