After Six Games the Desert Takes it's Toll

<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Cajuns run out of gas </b><i>
Road as No. 5 seed proves one game too long as OU advances </i>

TUCSON, Ariz. — Louisiana’s mystical and magical run to the College Softball World Series is over.

It came in a thud.

The Ragin’ Cajuns ran out of gas in the second game against No. 2 seed Oklahoma, falling 15-0 here at Hillenbrand Stadium in the Region 1 championship game. It’s the worst loss in the program’s history as it gave up the most runs in a game.

The loss ended Louisiana’s season at 60-8 overall, and one win short of its second consecutive trip to Oklahoma City, Okla., and the College World Series.

“These kids are champions and I’m very proud of them,’’ said UL coach Stefni Lotief. “We came out after having to come through the loser’s bracket. They believed in themselves and I believe in them. That’s how you come out and get it done.

“It was an incredible season. They are a very special group of kids.’’

Oklahoma (44-20-1) now advances to the College Softball World Series for the fifth consecutive season.

The Cajuns, behind junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell, couldn’t continue its incredible run as the region’s No. 5 seed, after beating No. 1 seed Arizona Saturday night and Oklahoma 12-4 in the first of what proved to be two games on Sunday. UL managed only four hits in the title game.

The Sooners and pitcher Kami Keither (45-5) were too much for the Cajuns, who earlier in the day had a record-setting performance by getting 18 hits against OU to get another chance at defeating the Sooners in the double-elimination tournament.

“They are a tremendous hitting team,’’ said Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso. “I’ve never seen anything like it. From top to bottom they are unbelievable.’’

After beating Oklahoma 12-4 in the first game, Lotief said she told her team to “come on. They re-chalk the field. Let’s go. We got to get back between the lines and find a way to win. We just came a game short.’’

Unlike the first game when the hits kept coming, UL couldn’t get it going offensively.

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It didn’t help that after the first inning, Oklahoma, a team that struggled in the first game on Sunday, scored six runs on six hits to jump out to an early lead. All came against Mitchell, who just a game earlier had limited the Sooners to nine hits and four runs in the first game.

Mitchell, in tears, said she was not tired, although she pitched the win against Arizona the night before and the 12-4 win.

“They were just hitting the ball really well,’’ said Mitchell.

UL co-head coach Michael Lotief added: “She was tired. You know she was tired. What do you want her to say? Did you see the heart that girl displayed all weekend?’’

Mitchell went 5-2 here in the Region I tournament, pitching 36.2 innings. She went 5-2. She finished with 524 strikeouts for the season.

She wasn’t enough.

As bad as Oklahoma had it in the first game that’s how good it had it in the second game, adding five more runs in the second inning, roughing up relief pitcher Holly Tankersley for four runs in the second inning.

Tankersley replaced Mitchell in the first inning after Mitchell faced seven batters to give up the six runs.

But Tankersley wasn’t any more affective against the Sooners the next inning, giving up four runs before being replaced by Mitchell.

Oklahoma wasn’t finished. Tankersley replaced Mitchell again after Mitchell gave up three runs in the third, including a two-run home run to Jessica Leslie.
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