NORMAN — Behind a dominating day at the plate from Lauren Chamberlain and a no-hitter from Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma started its season off 2-0 with a pair of wins over Stanford and Oregon State on Friday.
In the first game of the day, against Stanford, Ricketts picked up where she left off a year ago. Last season’s USA Softball Player of the Year pitched a no-hitter against Stanford in the season opener on Friday, a 6-0 Oklahoma victory.
It was the second no-hitter of Ricketts’ career and came on 14 strikeouts. She also added a home run in the first inning as the Sooners jumped out to a 5-0 lead in their first at-bat of the season.
“I think I came in really confident and relaxed because we had already gotten ahead with a huge lead so I didn’t have pressure on me,” Ricketts said.
Chamberlain, who went 2 for 2 with a home run in the opener, followed it up with another 2-for-2 performance against Oregon State that included a grand slam. Both hits were bombs that cleared the park, giving her six RBIs in the game and three home runs on the first day of the season.
Michelle Gascoigne earned the win in the second game, striking out nine while giving up two earned runs.
It was exactly the kind of start to the season the Sooners were looking for, coach Patty Gasso said.
“I think the beginning of this game was them waiting about eight months to release some things that had been held in for a while,” she said. “I thought we came out attacking.”
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
