No. 19 Aggies Fall to Oklahoma on Walk-Off Bomb

Saturday, April 23

Norman, Okla.

2:00 PM

Texas A&M

34-13, 0

Oklahoma

34-15, 0

Texas A&M

Oklahoma

Apr 23, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

April 23, 2011

Final Stats

NORMAN, Okla. - A walk-off home run by Oklahoma designated player Katie Norris gave the Sooners (34-14, 7-6 Big 12) a 2-0 win over the 19th-ranked Texas A&M softball team (34-13, 6-5 Big 12) in the final game of a two-game conference series at the OU Softball Complex.

"It is disappointing," head coach Jo Evans said. "I thought [sophomore] Mel [Dumezich] had strike three. It's difficult when you're playing a game of inches and you're in that situation. I just thought Mel did a good job today. OU did a better job at the plate but I still liked our fight. It's a disappointing way to lose a game."

The bomb came in the bottom of the seventh after a scoreless duel in which Oklahoma outhit the Aggies, 7-1, to split games in the series.

The Aggies' only hit of the game came in the top of the third when senior Kelsey Spittler singled up the middle. She was caught stealing in the final play of the inning.

"We got frustrated and took ourselves out of the game," Evans said. "[Oklahoma pitcher Keilani] Ricketts will do that to you. I kept telling our kids that you're going to have strikeouts. That's just the way it is with her and you've got to stay in the game for as long as it takes."

In the top of the fourth, redshirt junior Natalie Villarreal drew a walk and stole second but was left in scoring position. Dumezich also took first on a fourth ball in the top of the fifth before Emily Albus entered to run. The freshman stole second and took third on a groundout, but was also stranded on the third out.

In A&M's last look of the game, freshman Amber Garza walked in the top of the seventh. The third baseman was caught stealing, however, and Norris' two-run homer ended the game in a seventh-inning walk-off win for OU.

Dumezich (20-8) fanned five Sooners in 6 1/3 innings of work, giving up only two runs on seven hits. Oklahoma left-handed pitcher Ricketts allowed only one hit by the Aggies, striking out 15 batters in seven complete innings.

Up next, the Aggies travel to Lawrence, Kan., to face the Jayhawks in a pair of Big 12 games next weekend. Saturday's game has been moved to 4 p.m. while the game Sunday remains at noon. Log on to AggieAthletics.com for more information on Texas A&M softball.