Corey DeMoss 
OKBlitz.com Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE, California – The Oklahoma softball team went into extra innings in its second game of the day, but scored three times in the eighth inning to win 4-1 and force a doubleheader split with Cal State-Northridge Wednesday.

After the teams were tied 1-1 at the end of the seventh, the Sooners (22-4) came alive with three runs in the extra frame. Amber Flores led off the inning with a ground ball to the shortstop, but a throwing error advanced Flores all the way to third base.

Flores scored on a single by Jessica Shults, and Chana’e Jones and Dani Dobbs each added an RBI in the inning. Keilani Ricketts continued her strong pitching in the bottom of the inning to shut the door, avenging OU’s loss earlier in the day.

The first game featured an even tighter pitchers’ duel, which Northridge won 1-0. Ricketts started, and both she and Northridge starter Hannah Fraijo pitched complete-game two-hitters.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Northridge’s Kristen Mihm led off with a home run. In the seventh, pinch runner Krystle Huey stood on second base with one out. Chana’e Jones connected on a single, but Huey was unable to advance past third. Fraijo then struck out Ricketts and Katie Norris to finish the game.

The loss ended the Sooners’ eight-game winning streak, and their previous loss was also 1-0 to Oklahoma State. OU will now move on to take part in the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California. They will play two games Thursday, against Utah at 3:30 p.m. and Arizona State at 5:45 p.m.