Softball Falls 12-4, Gets Second Shot At Cajuns

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The good news is that the Oklahoma softball team essentially gets a mulligan.

The bad news is all the momentum resides in the dugout of Louisiana-Lafayette, who beat the Sooners 12-4 to force a second game in the NCAA Softball Region I Championship at Hillenbrand Field in Tucson, Ariz.

The winner of the second meeting, which will begin at approximately 6:20 p.m. (CST), will advance to play in next weekend's Women's College World Series.

The loss ends OU's streak of 19 consecutive wins in regional action.

View Live Stats for Championship Game

Lafayette hit OU ace Kami Keiter hard for seven runs, five of which were earned. Keiter was successful in the odd innings when she didn't allow any runs, but she struggled in the even numbered frames. ULL scored seven of their 12 runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings. They cleaned up on freshman Jessica Johnson for five runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.

The Rajin Cajuns tallied 18 hits, which tied an OU opponent record for hits in a game.

Game 1 Box Score

The Sooners offense wasn't bad, it just couldn't keep pace with the Cajuns. OU tallied four runs and nine hits off ULL ace Brooke Mitchell, both of which were season-highs.

Lafayette struck first, which was an encouraging sign for the Cajuns who are now 51-2 when they score first this season. The Lafayette score was manufactured on a leadoff double by first baseman Ashley Evans and RBI single by left fielder Crystal George.

The Cajuns added two runs on five hits in the top of the fourth inning. A two-out double by George put ULL up 3-0 through three and a half frames.

The Sooners responded to trailing for the first time in regional action with a four-run rally in the fourth and fifth innings. The rally started with a RBI double by Lafayette native and Sooner right fielder Jamie Fox. That put the Sooners down 3-1 after four innings.

In the fifth inning Dickson reached after being plunked. Then a double by Kristin Vesely put both in scoring position with one out. A fielder's choice by Heather Scaglioine plated Dickson. A single by Enea loaded the bases. Jessica Leslie was hit on the elbow to tie the game at 3-3. Jamie Fox put the Sooners ahead with an infield single for her second RBI of the game.

The Sooners 4-3 lead was short lived as the Ragin Cajuns answered with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Anothter five runs came in the seventh inning off reliever Jessica Johnson.

It marks the first time that OU has ever participated in the if necessary' game during regional championship action.