Sooners, Team USA 2-1 After One Weekend

July 11, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma's Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults both saw action for the USA Softball Women's National Team as the squad posted a 2-1 record over the opening weekend of action at the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship in Surrey, B.C. The US opened the event with a 5-0 win over Australia before Ricketts took to the pitcher's circle to face Japan.

The San Jose, Calif., native gave a strong performance, going the distance for the Americans in a 1-0 extra-innings loss. The US was unable to plate a run in nine innings of action, collecting just three hits on the day including one from Ricketts. The Japanese picked up their winning run in the bottom of the ninth after starting with a runner on second due to the international tie breaker rule. A Haruna Sakamoto single gave Japan the win as Ricketts scattered six hits throughout the game while picking up seven strikeouts and walking seven.

Shults, who was named an alternate for the team, got into international action in Sunday's 8-0 win over Venezuela. Shults entered the game at catcher in the bottom of the fifth inning, replacing Ashley Holcombe behind the plate. Shults led off for the Americans in the sixth, reaching safely on a single before advancing to second on a passed ball. Shults then advanced to third on Michelle Moultrie's single before being caught stealing for the first out of the inning for the US.

The US returns to action Monday night vs. Canada with action scheduled throughout the week finishing with the championship game on Sunday, July 17. Following the event, the Ricketts, Shults and the rest of the US team heads to Oklahoma City for the World Cup of Softball VI. The event runs July 21-25 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Tickets for the event can be purchased at SoftballOutlet.com.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners, Team USA 2-1 After One Weekend

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