OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – A two-run first inning held up behind the escape act that was Kelsey Stevens’ day from the circle as Oklahoma eliminated Louisiana-Lafayette from the Women’s College World Series on Saturday at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla., 3-1.
OU designated player Brittany Williams (1-for-3) provided the biggest blow of the contest with a two-run double in the bottom of the first. Sooner center fielder Callie Parsons also contributed a rare inside the park HR during the sixth frame as part of her 1-for-3 effort.
Louisiana-Lafayette’s offense out-hit OU by banging out six hits, led by 2-for-4 performances from second baseman Natalie Fernandez and center fielder Haley Hayden, and left 11 runners stranded in the match-up as Stevens escaped jam after jam. Catcher Lexie Elkins (1-for-3) finally got ULL on the scoreboard with a solo HR in the top of the seventh.
Stevens improved to 38-9 on the season after scattering six hits, allowing one earned run, walking three and striking out seven. Christina Hamilton suffered the defeat for the Ragin’ Cajuns, ending the campaign at 29-4 after permitting two earned tallies on just four hits with two walks and a pair of K’s.
Box Score| Oklahoma Quotes | Louisiana Quotes | Notes
"That was a fight," Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso said. "That was an absolute battle from start to finish. We respect Lafayette's ability to swing and pitch. They're tremendous athletes. And I am so extremely proud of Kelsey Stevens and the fight she put in today to hold them to six hits. But more than anything, they left 11 runners on base. That means this one is finding ways to get out of innings. She had timely strikeouts. They had opportunities numerous times and I'm just really, really proud of the way Kelsey found a way to get out of it and the way the defense played behind her."
With ULL having gone down quietly in the top of the first, Oklahoma immediately unleashed their offense in the bottom half. After a fielding miscue at short put first baseman Lauren Chamberlain on with one out in the frame, third baseman Shelby Pendley drew a free pass. Williams stepped into the batter’s box and blasted a shot to the wall in center for a double as both runners crossed easily for a quick 2-0 Sooner lead.
Louisiana-Lafayette got a pair aboard in the top of the second via a throwing error from third and a two-out walk. Unfortunately for ULL, designated player Sara Corbello popped up harmlessly to the circle to leave two Ragin’ Cajun teammates stranded.
ULL got another threat brewing with one down in the top of the third against Stevens as Fernandez dropped a perfect bunt single out in front of the plate and Hayden followed with a single to left center. With the bases loaded after Elkins was hit by a pitch, Stevens escaped the jam by striking out third baseman Samantha Walsh looking and coercing a grounder to short off the bat of right fielder Shellie Landry as the Louisiana-Lafayette left stranded total grew to five.
Chamberlain and Pendley again ignited OU’s offense starting the bottom of the third by leading off the frame with consecutive singles. With one down, shortstop Georgia Casey sent a gasp through the crowd with a towering drive to left, but the ball was caught at the wall for a very loud out. The Oklahoma threat ended just as quickly as it began as Hamilton speared a liner back to the circle off the bat of right fielder Erin Miller for out number three.
Back-to-back singles from Fernandez and Hayden got the Cajuns in business starting the fifth. Once again Stevens proved up to the significant challenge from the circle as the hurler managed to retire spots three, four & five in the dangerous Ragin’ Cajun line-up in order, escaping the threat with OU’s 2-0 advantage intact.
After Louisiana Lafayette left two more stranded in the top of the sixth, upping the ULL left on base count to a staggering 10, Oklahoma’s Parsons electrified the Crimson & Cream partisan crowd in the bottom half. She lifted a two-out blooper to left that dropped just inside the line in front of sliding outfielder Shelbi Redfearn and rolled towards the corner. With the Ragin’ Cajun defense scrambling to recover, Parsons circled the bases for an inside the park HR and a 3-0 lead.
From there it was just left to Stevens to finish off the Sooner win. It wasn’t without some difficulty, however, as Elkins finally got Louisiana-Lafayette on the board via a one-out solo HR to right center. Trailing 3-1, Walsh singled to left to bring the potential tying run to the plate. The rally wasn’t to be for ULL though as Landry popped up to third and Redfearn grounded out sharply to second to end the contest.
