OKLAHOMA CITY — Shannon Rhodes and Haley Cruse homered as a matchup of two elite pitchers developed into a slugfest Thursday, with the Oregon softball team coming out on top 11-6 over Arizona State in the Women's College World Series opener at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Ducks (53-8) moved on to face the Oklahoma-Washington winner in a game Friday (4 p.m. PT, ESPN). Oregon won its opening game in Oklahoma City for just the second time ever.
Sophomore Miranda Elish (25-1) got the start for the Ducks and allowed five runs over five innings, giving up a two-run homer in the first and a three-run shot in the fifth.