FULLERTON, Calif. — Oklahoma’s 11th-ranked softball team now knows it can compete with one of the best teams in the nation. Winning, however, is a different matter.
Playing the first of two games Friday at the Judy Garman Classic, the Sooners fell 4-3 to No. 2 Arizona.
A case can be made neither team played like one of the best teams in the nation. OU (24-5) committed two errors and allowed three unearned runs. Arizona (24-2) committed three errors and three unearned runs.
The Wildcats fourth-run, plated in the bottom of the seventh, was the only earned run freshman Sooner pitcher Keilani Ricketts allowed, though it was still her mistake that led to it.
Ricketts plunked Arizona’s Baillie Kirker to open the bottom of the seventh inning. A pair of sacrifice bunts pushed Kirker to third base, from which she came home on Brittany Lastrapes’ infield single.
Arizona pitcher Kenzie Fowler was strong, allowing just two hits, walking four and striking out 12. Ricketts lived dangerously, allowing seven hits and seven walks to go with eight strikeouts.
Lindsey Vandever led OU at the plate, going 1 for 2 with two RBIs.
The Sooners returned to the diamond after 10 p.m. Friday to meet San Jose State.
