Sooners win two in Phoenix while Cowgirls split pair in Houston
Oklahoma opened its softball season Friday with a pair of victories in the Grand Canyon University Kickoff Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Sooners defeated Syracuse 6-0 in the first game of the day behind a one-hitter by pitcher
Mariah Lopez, who struck out a career-high 12 batters while walking just two.
The performance marked her second career shutout and second career game with doubledigit strikeouts.
OU scored single runs in the fourth and sixth before breaking the game open with four runs in the seventh.
Catcher Lynnsie Elam of Chickasha was the hitting star for the Sooners, going 2-of-3 at the plate and delivering a bases clearing 3-RBI double in the seventh. Grace Green also had two hits and an RBI in the game.
In the nightcap, the Sooners downed host Grand Canyon University 7-1, who took a 1-0 lead with a solo homer by Savannah Tourville in the bottom of the first inning.
The score remained 1-0 until the Sooners erupted for six runs in the fifth. Falepolima Aviu knocked in two runs in the inning with a single and Eliyah Flores plated two more runs with a double.
Caleigh Clifton also had an RBI single in the fifth then capped off the scoring for OU with a solo homer in the sixth.
Giselle Juarez started in the circle and pitched four innings for OU, allowing just two hits and one earned run. Shannon
Saile pitched the final three frames giving up just two hits.
The Sooners continue the season-opening GCU Kickoff Tournament on Saturday with a pair of games against Charlotte at 10 a.m. and Syracuse at 3 p.m.
No. 22 Oklahoma State dropped a 7-4 decision to Illinois in its opener Friday in the Houston Invitational, but bounced back to defeat the host Cougars 5-1 in the nightcap.
In the first game, the Cowgirls held a 2-1 lead before Illinois' Bella
Loya belted a three-run homer off OSU starter
Logan Simunek in the third inning. Illinois never trailed after the third as
Annie Fleming also homered and knocked in three runs for the Fighting Illini.
OSU's Samantha Show homered for the Cowgirls and had three RBI. Simunek pitched just three innings and allowed six runs, five earned.
Against Houston, Show took the circle and pitched a complete game for the win. Rylee Bayless put the Cowgirls on top with an RBI triple in the third.
Houston tied the game with a run in the fourth but OSU answered with two runs in the fifth.
Kiley Naomi led off the inning with a bunt single then came around to score when Bayless' ground ball to short was misplayed.
Madi Sue Mongomery's RBI single then plated Bayless.
In the seventh, OSU scored another unearned run before Taylor Lynch delivered an RBI single. Show fanned six and walked just two batters in pitching a two-hitter.
OSU continues play in the Houston Invitational on Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. game against Sam Houston State followed by a 2 p.m. rematch against Illinois.