Hustle put the USF Bulls Softball team up 1-0 over the University of Oklahoma midway through the first game of the NCAA Women's College World Series Thursday, but the Sooners' big bats exploded a short time later as OU rallied for a 5-1 victory.
The USF's first WCWS game ever was a pitcher's battle early as All-Americans Sara Nevins for USF and Keilani Ricketts of Oklahoma traded three innings of scoreless ball in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
USF broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth when senior third baseman Jessica Mouse reached on an error, moved to second on a groundout, and pinch-runner Courtney Goff scored on a two-out single by Kourtney Salvarola.
The lead was short-lived as in the bottom of the inning, Oklahoma freshman Lauren Chamberlain crushed her 28th home run of the season, extending her OU single-season record.
Oklahoma added three runs in the sixth, highlighted by Chamberlain's opposite field double and Ricketts RBI triple. On Friday, Oklahoma (51-8) will play the winner of the game later today between top-seeded Cal and LSU.
USF (50-13) is off tomorrow, but faces an an elimination game Saturday at 1 p.m. against the loser of the Cal-LSU game. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and the USF Athletics website, GoUSFBulls.com.
