Sooners Advance to World Series with Win over Arizona

News9.com

TUCSON, Arizona -- The Oklahoma Sooners knocked off the Arizona Wildcats 5-2 Saturday, to advance to the Women's College World Series, thanks to another great outing from Keilani Ricketts.

Ricketts (29-13) pitched a complete game, giving up eight hits and two earned runs, while striking out seven. Her only runs of the game came in the top of the seventh thanks to a two-run home run from Lini Koria, to cut OU's lead to 5-2 with two outs on the board.

Kenzie Fowler (26-9) came away with a loss for the outing, giving up five earned runs on eight hits in her six innings of service for the Wildcats.

Ricketts started the scoring off for the Sooners in the top of the first inning. In the second at-bat of the inning, Brianna Turang single to left field and two batters later, Ricketts went yard to left center to give OU a two-run lead.

Oklahoma went back to work in the top of the fourth inning.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out of the board, setting the table for Cierra Hughes. The freshman from Midwest City, Oklahoma singled up the middle, scoring Chana'e Jones and Dani Dobbs to give OU a 4-0 advantage. Turang reached on an error in the next at-bat, bringing Hughes home to cap off the scoring for the Sooners.

Oklahoma now returns to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series and will face top-seeded Arizona State when the tournament kicks off Thursday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.