OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s first five runners reached base – three on singles and two on errors by Washington shortstop Amanda Oleson – and the Sooners went on to beat the Huskies 6-2 in the opening round of the College World Series on Thursday.
Oklahoma (45-20-1) scored four runs in the first inning while handing the Huskies their first loss ever in the CWS opening round.
Washington (40-18) next plays Florida State (61-11) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination fastpitch softball tournament. ESPN2 will televise the game.
Washington got off to a fast start, scoring one run in the top of the first inning with an RBI-single by Dena Tyson.
The hit up the middle scored Aimee Minor from second base. Minor had reached base after being hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position with a walk to Sarah Hyatt.
But Oklahoma jumped on Washington in its half of the inning, taking advantage of two Husky errors to score four unearned runs.
Norelle Dickson led off with a single through the left side and then the Sooners loaded the bases on back-to-back Husky fielding errors. Oklahoma foloowed those miscues with three RBI singles, including a two-RBI hit by Mariee Mena to take the 4-1 lead.
Washington scored one run on three hits in the third inning. The Huskies loaded the bases with an infield single by Minor, a walk to Kristen Rivera and single to center by Kathy Fiske. Oleson then singled up the middle to cut OU’s lead to 4-2.
Washington threatened in the top of the fourth when Rita Roach led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. But OU pitcher Kami Keiter worked her way out of the jam with a pop-up and a pair of strikeouts.
Oklahoma pulled away in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring two runs on a Vesely’s two-RBI, line-drive double into left centerfield to make it 6-2. Washington got out of the inning when Vesely attempted to score from second on Christine Ena’s single up the middle but was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Rita Roach.
Washington put runners on first and second in the top of the seventh but couldn’t score.
Ashley Boek (29-12) scattered nine hits, walked three and struck out five for Washington. OU’s Keiter (22-13) gave up eight hits, walked three and struck out five.
Washington stranded 11 runners in the game, while Oklahoma left seven.
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