College softball: OU continues to roll, whips California Riverside

The Sooners (6-0) had home runs from Keilani Ricketts and Lauren Chamberlain and a solid pitching performance from Michelle Gascoigne. She held the Highlanders (2-4) to a pair of hits while walking two and striking out 16.

OU played San Diego State late Friday night. The Sooners are scheduled to play Kentucky and Washington on Saturday.

COWGIRLS SPLIT

Oklahoma State split a pair of games Friday at the Lovelace Invitational in Denton, Texas. The Cowgirls lost the opener, 3-1 to Iowa in eight innings, then rebounded for an 8-0 rout over host North Texas.

Simone Freeman threw a complete-game four-hitter against North Texas. Tarah Ettinger had three hits and two RBIs for the Cowgirls (3-3).

In the first game, Megan Blank had a two-run homer in the top of the eighth for Iowa, which had to hang on in the bottom of the inning for the victory. Ari Morrison had a run-scoring single, but the Cowgirls would strand two runners.

OSU plays Nebraska-Omaha at 9 a.m. Saturday and Dayton at 11:30.

STARS LOSE OPENER

No. 4-ranked Oklahoma City University struggled mightily in the field Friday and lost its season opener 5-1 to No. 23 Bethany (Kan.) at Ann Lacy Stadium.

OCU committed six errors, which led to five unearned runs. The Stars' offense also struggled, mustering just five hits. Kyndra Holasek had two hits for OCU, which plays William Woods College (Mo.) on Saturday in Claremore.