Softball Falls To Oklahoma, 3-2, In NCAA Region 3 Championship Game
May 21, 2000
NORMAN, Okla. - Oregon State scored twice in the second inning, but Oklahoma responded with three runs in the third - which ended up being all the Sooners needed to advance to the Women's College World Series. Neither team scored again, and Oklahoma came away with a 3-2 win over the OSU softball team in the NCAA Region 3 championship game.
"It was a hard fought game. I'm very, very proud of the way we played. We left it on the field," coach Kirk Walker said. "I'm proud of the way we played all weekend."
Tarrah Beyster got things started for OSU in the second inning, when she was hit by a pitch. The Sooners got Beyster out at second on Jenni Jodoin's grounder, and Brooke Rutschman hit a ground rule double down the right field line to put runners at second and third with one out. Michelle Notaro then flew out to deep right field to score Jodoin and advance Rutschman to third. Cara Maxey kept the rally going with a base hit to left field to drive in Rutschman before Parisa Plant's fly ball to center field ended the inning.
But as soon as the Beavers scored, the Sooners turned around and did the same thing. Leah Gulla doubled to right center field, and LaKisha Washington homered over the left field fence to tie the game with no outs. Christy Ring followed up with a bunt single, went to second on a grounder and scored on Andrea Davis' base hit to center field.
OSU threatened in the third and sixth innings, leaving two runners stranded both times. The Beavers had their best chance in the sixth, when Michelle Chariton came in as a pinch runner for Beyster, who led off the inning with a walk. Jodoin sacrificed Chariton over to second, and Rutschman picked up her second hit of the day to put runners on first and third with just one out. Notaro grounded out to first base for the second out, and Maxey flew out to center field to end the inning.
Crystal Draper took the loss for the Beavers after giving up three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks. She finished the season at 13-8. OU's Lana Moran improved to 26-2 with the victory.
"Crystal threw a great game. They're a great offensive team, and she pitched well," Walker said.
Draper joined Beyster and Shawna Feldt on the 12-member All-Tournament Team. Draper finished the week with 31 strikeouts in 21.1 innings, including a school-record 14 K's in a win over Arkansas. Feldt hit .389 for the tournament, going 7-for-18 with two runs, three RBI, a home run and a double. Beyster hit .273 with one home run to go along with a 2-1 record and 1.34 ERA.
The Beavers finished the season at 40-21-1, marking the second season in a row and just the third in school history that OSU has had 40 wins in a season. OU heads to the WCWS with a 62-8 record.
Game Results
Oklahoma 003 000 0 - 3 8 0 Oregon State 020 000 0 - 2 5 1
Moran and Barrett. Draper and Prochaska. WP- Moran (26-2). LP- Draper (13-8). 2B- Fulton, Braitsch, Gulla (OU), Rutschman (OSU). HR- Washington (OU).
