No. 1 Arizona Ends Softball's Streak

FULLERTON, Calif. -- The No. 1 team in the country became the first opponent to defeat the No. 8 Oklahoma softball team (31-5) in 35 days on Saturday morning in championship bracket play at the KIA Klassic.

Arizona (23-1), thanks to a dominant pitching performance by ace Alicia Hollowell and three-run homer by Jackie Coburn, ended the Sooners school-record winning streak at 29 games.

Arizona put OU in a deep first inning hole. After a leadoff bunt single by Caitlin Lowe and walk to Kristie Fox, senior catcher Jackie Coburn hit the first offering from Kami Keiter over the left field fence for her third home run of the season. Two batters later Jen Martinez laced a double to left that gave the Wildcats a 4-0 lead.

Box Score

OU had Norrelle Dickson and Kristin Vesely in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the first inning but Arizona ace Alicia Hollowell was able to send the meat of OU's lineup down in order.

The four run lead was all Hollowell (13-1) needed. She held the Sooners to four hits and after the first frame, she didn't face another serious scoring threat. One solace for OU was that Hollowell, who usually racks up strikeouts, only recorded six punchouts.

Keiter (16-2) had her worst outing of the season. She allowed four earned runs in three innings of work. The Sooners' lefty ace was missing her spots, which resulted in 10 U-of-A hits and just three strikeouts. The loss ends a 15-game winning streak for the Colorado native.

Nicole Denes was a definite bright spot for OU. Denes worked four innings in relief and did not allow a run. The junior gave up five hits and stranded nine Wildcats runners.

OU's four hits were turned in by Christina Enea, Jessica Leslie, Vesely and Jamie Fox. Fox's was the only one to leave the infield.

OU had the nation's longest winning streak coming into the contest and now hands that recognition off to Michigan, who has won 24 consecutive.

The Sooners drop into the consolation portion of the championship bracket where, weather permitting, they will meet the winner of No. 14 Washington at approximately 10:30 p.m. Central. Saturday action has already been delay 2:40 due to rain showers.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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