Upcoming Event: Softball versus UCSB on February 6, 2026 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Softball
vs UCSB
The University of Utah Athletics
Thursday, May 16
Norman, Okla.
1:30 MT
University of Utah
0
at
6
Oklahoma (NCAA Regionals)
Utah Softball Drops First Game In NCAA Regional
5/16/2002 12:00 AM | Softball
May 16, 2002
Norman, Okla. - The University of Utah softball team dropped its first game of the Region V NCAA Tournament to the Oklahoma Sooners, 6-0 on Thurs., May 16 in Norman, Okla. Utah drops to 30-35 overall, while Oklahoma improves to 46-16 on the season. Utah will face Army in game four at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The winner of that game will take on the loser of game three (Texas A&M vs. Arkansas) on Fri., May 17 at 2:30 p.m. (CDT).
A pitching battle began from the start with both teams scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Oklahoma scored on a throwing error by Jen Pursell, giving the Sooners a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Oklahoma loaded the bases and scored three more runs. Two controversial calls made by the home plate umpire extended the Oklahoma lead to 4-0. The Sooners were able to score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 6-0 win.
The Utes stranded three runners on the base paths and managed just four hits in the game. Masie Ota went 2-for-3, while teammates Niki Hayhurst and Angie Kenney picked up one hit each in the game. Jen Pursell took the loss for Utah, she moves to 18-18 on the season. Pursell pitched 6.0 innings and gave up nine hits, two earned runs, four walks and struck out four in 32 batters faced.
Oklahoma's Kelli Braitsch had the only extra base hit of the game with a double. Braitsch was a perfect 2-for-2 with a double, one run and an RBI in the game. Teammate Christina Enea went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Leah Gulla went 2-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI. Jennifer Stewart (19-6) went the distance on the mound, pitching all seven innings and giving up just four hits, zero runs and one walk, while striking out seven in 24 batters faced.
"This was a great performance by Jennifer Stewart," said Head Coach Mona Stevens. "She (Stewart) stepped it up today. We are a different team than what they saw today. We didn't hit the ball well and they pitched a great game. That was the difference today."
UP NEXT: The Utes will await the chance to participate in the NCAA College World Series on Sun.-Thurs., May. 23-27.
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