Softball: No. 1 Sooners Thump No. 6 Texas, Cowgirls Snap Six-Game Losing Streak

Oklahoma

AUSTIN, Texas—The No. 1 Oklahoma softball team began a key Big 12 series against No. 6 Texas, downing the Longhorns in Austin, 6-1, Friday evening.

With the win, Oklahoma takes over first place in the Big 12 with a 7-0 record, removing Texas, 8-1, from the top spot

Keilani Ricketts was dominant in the circle for the Sooners, setting a season high with 15 strikeouts to improve to 21-1. She allowed one run on six hits with two walks. The lone run came on a home run from Texas' Karina Scott in the bottom of the second inning.

The Sooners got surprising production from the bottom of the order, as Destinee Martinez, Callie Parsons and Brianna Turang combined to go 7-for-9 from the plate with four RBIs.

The top of the lineup combined to go 0-for-13, including a 0-for-5 outing from Lauren Chamberlain.

The Sooners chased Texas starter Blaire Luna after four innings of work, putting four runs on the Longhorns' ace. Jessica Shults greeted new Texas pitcher Holly Kern in the top of the fifth with a solo home run to push the OU lead to 5-1.

Texas loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, but Ricketts struck out Taylor Thom to end the game.

Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, Okla.— The Oklahoma State softball team snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating Big 12 foe Kansas 3-1 Friday evening at Cowgirl Stadium in game one of a three-game series.

The Cowgirls (25-20, 3-7 Big 12) jumped on the board right away in the bottom of the first inning when Tarah Ettinger hit a two-run home run, her eighth of the season, over the fence in left center, scoring Ari Morrison who reached base after drawing a walk.

OSU added on one more run in the bottom of the second inning off a solo shot by Amy Graham, her fourth of the season.

Kansas (26-12, 3-4) picked up a run in the top of the fourth inning when Chaley Brickey scored on a base hit by Maddie Stein to make the score 3-1. That was all the offense the Jayhawks would muster as the Cowgirls' defense held Kansas in check.

Offensively, the Cowgirls had just four hits, but two were the homers by Ettinger and Graham. Tiffany Mikkelson and Gessenia DeLaCruz also had base hits for OSU.

Kat Espinosa (14-13) started in the circle and threw a complete game, giving up the lone run on six hits while striking out four.

The Cowgirls return to the diamond for game two against Kansas Saturday at noon.