Oklahoma Softball: Sooners Stop Michigan Hot Start, Win 7-1

The Oklahoma Sooners came into the Women’s College World Series as the top ranked softball team in the nation. However, over three innings, the Michigan Wolverines looked like they came out with one intention in mind: to play the spoilers. That changed in the third inning, when the Oklahoma softball team exploded and the Sooners ended up taking the win in the first game of the Women’s College World Series, 7-1.

Oklahoma struggled out the gate, the batters unable to find a rhythm, and Michigan actually led through the first 2.5 innings by a score of 1-0. Kelaini Ricketts pitched a gem, but the Sooners defense allowed a base runner on a throwing error and the runner ended up scoring to give the Wolverine’s the lead.

In the bottom of the third, Oklahoma softball finally came to life. Brianna Turang reached base on an error and then Regional MVP Lauren Chamberlain picked up her first hit of the game to put two on with no outs. A Georgia Casey single scored Turang to tie the game, and Jessica Schults hit a single to score both runners on base, putting OU up 4-1.

Kelaini Ricketts continued to dominate, allowing one batter on a hit-by-pitch, but not giving up anything else in the top of the fourth.

Turang once again led off the inning with a hit. Chamberlain then got her second hit of the game, this one a long ball that put OU up 6-1. It was her 28th homer of the season and 58th of her amazing career. Chamberlain is now tied for 11th on the NCAA single-season list, tied for 2nd on the Big 12 career list and 3rd on the OU career list.

OU scored again in the fifth when Callie Parsons picked up an RBI scoring Jessica Shults, to give OU the 7-1 lead.

Michigan put two batters on base in the sixth, but Ricketts worked out of it with two straight strikeouts. She walked one more batter in the seventh, but finished the game with the seven-inning shut out for the win. The no hitter was Ricketts sixth of the season, 7th of her career, and only the 16th in the Women’s College World Series history.

Ricketts finished the game with two walks, 12 strikeouts and one non-earned run. Lauren Chamberlain led the team with two hits, including a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. The Oklahoma softball team next plays the Texas Longhorns on May 31.