April 27, 2003
The No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies and the No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners faced off in their last conference game of the season Sunday at the OU Softball Complex in Norman, Oklahoma with the Sooners coming out on top 12-5.
Oklahoma struck first with a two-run home run in the second inning by designated player Jennifer Stump. Stump hit a line drive home run over the left field wall scoring Christina Enea from third. Enea reached with a lead off infield single, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout before crossing the plate on Stump's home run.
Senior Cheryl Fowler put the Aggies on the board in the third inning when she hit a home run, her second of the season, to left field cutting the Sooner lead in half. Adrian Gregory followed Fowler's dinger with an infield single but was stranded as the next two Aggie batters were retired ending the inning.
Sooner third baseman Leah Gulla put OU back up by two when she hit a two-out triple through the right side scoring Kristin Vesely who reached on an error by shortstop Crystal Martin.
With two-outs and the bases loaded Fowler worked Keiter to a full count before drawing a walk and pushing Awalt across the plate bringing the Aggies within one. Awalt was pinch running for Kristin Gunter who singled to center and was moved to second on Jana James single before advancing to third when pitcher Lindsay Wilhelmson hit a single up the middle. Adrian Gregory followed Fowler's walk with one of her one scoring Jana James from third and tying the score at three apiece.
Aggie hurler Lindsay Wilhelmson gave the Aggies their first lead of the weekend with her 11th home run of the year when she took Dana Askins delivery over the center field wall scoring Crystal Martin, who reached on and error, giving A&M a 5-3 lead.
The Sooners retook the lead and sealed the game in the bottom of the sixth with nine runs on four hits and two A&M errors and went to the final frame with a 12-5 lead.
In the Aggie seventh Selena Collins led off with a walk and advanced to second when Jana James' ripped a grounder to shortstop that was bobbled allowing James to reach first. Lindsay Wilhelmson loaded the bases with a sharply hit ball to third that was misplayed moving Collins to third and James to second with Jennifer Davis stepping into the box. Davis hit a chopper to second that hit Wilhelmson as she was running giving the Aggies their third out and ending the game.
Aggie junior Jessica Slataper received the loss after entering in the sixth inning for Lindsay Wilhelmson. Slataper entered the game with a 5-3 lead but allowed five runs, three unearned, on one hit and two walks. Lindsey Rippee came in for Slataper with no outs and the bases loaded but could not stop the Sooners as they scored four more runs, two unearned, on three hits. Wilhelmson got the start and threw five innings allowing four runs, three earned, while striking out four and walking one before being pulled in the sixth.
A&M returns home to prepare for the Big 12 Tournament that will be in Oklahoma City on May 1-4. The Aggies and Sooners will hook up once again in the tournament's first round at 11 a.m. Friday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Live audio and live stats will be available on AggieAthletics.com.