OU Duo Helps USA to Run Rule Win

July 16, 2012

WHITEHORSE, YUKON, Canada — Oklahoma's Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults helped the USA Softball National Team move to 4-0 at the ISF XIII Women's World Fastpitch Championship Monday with a 17-0 run-rule win over South Africa. Both Sooners contributed to the scoring barrage with Ricketts opening the American scoring early with a first inning grand slam.

Ricketts didn't wait long to get things going Monday as she sent the first pitch she saw, with the bases loaded and one out, over the fence to bring in all four first inning runs for the U.S. Shults led off the 12-run second inning for the U.S. in her first appearance at the plate and promptly reached second after an error from the South African centerfielder. The senior-to-be scored on the next at bat as Christi Orgeron doubled to send Shults home.

After the bases were cleared by another USA home run, Ricketts reached first in the second on a four-pitch walk. Stacey May-Johnson entered the game as a pinch runner for Ricketts and would later score off a Shults' single to first. Shults herself would score again in the inning as an error by South Africa's shortstop allowed the starting catcher to trot home.

Ricketts, Shults and the rest of the U.S. team returns to action on Tuesday as they face the China, the only other undefeated team in USA's preliminary group.