Texas’ Osterman Sets Record in 2-0 Victory

All-American Cat Osterman (38-2) had 18 strikeouts to break the College World Series record for a seven-inning game in Texas’ 2-0 victory over Arizona State on Thursday in the opening round of the eight-team tournament at Oklahoma City.

Osterman yielded one hit -- Bianca Cruz’s second-inning single -- and did not walk a batter. After Cruz’s hit, she retired the final 18 batters in a row.

The senior left-hander broke the World Series strikeout record for a regulation game of 17 that she shared with Northwestern’s Lisa Ishikawa, who set the record in a 1-0 victory over Adelphi in 1984. Osterman matched it twice, in a 1-0 win over California in 2003 and a 3-0 victory over Alabama last year.

The overall World Series record is 20 by UCLA’s Debbie Doom in a 2-1, 13-inning victory over Oklahoma State in 1982.

Osterman, who has struck out a career-high 24 twice, has 608 strikeouts this season to push her NCAA-record total to 2,248. She also has 85 shutouts.

The Longhorns (55-7) advanced to play Arizona tonight. The Sun Devils (52-14) will play Oregon State on Saturday in a loser’s bracket game.

Arizona 3, Oregon State 2 -- Kristie Fox singled in Caitlin Lowe in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Wildcats over the Beavers. Lowe doubled off Brianne McGowan (29-8) to start the inning.

Arizona (50-10) took a 2-0 lead in the third on singles by Autumn Champion and Fox.

McGowan homered in the fifth and the Beavers (43-15) scored in the sixth on a throwing error by winning pitcher Alicia Hollowell (28-4).

Northwestern 6, Alabama 5 -- Darcy Sengewald scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning when the ball went through center fielder Brittany Rogers’ legs after Tammy Williams’ single up the middle. The Wildcats (48-13) forced extra innings on Erin Dyer’s two-out homer in the seventh. Alabama dropped to 47-14.