No. 1 Michigan starts strong at Women's College World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY — Jennifer Ritter allowed three singles, and top-ranked Michigan beat DePaul 3-0 last night in the third of four games in the opening round of the NCAA Women's College World Series for fastpitch softball.

In the first game, Tennessee's Monica Abbott threw a one-hitter and extended her scoreless streak to 43 innings in the Volunteers' 1-0 victory over Arizona, which is back in the tournament after having its run of 16 consecutive appearances snapped last year. Also, UCLA edged California 2-1, and Texas beat Alabama 3-0 in the final game.

Ritter (34-2) struck out 12 to help Michigan (61-5) win its first game in the Women's College World Series since 1998.

Michigan scored twice in the first inning on Nicole Motycka's run-scoring single and a DePaul error and made it 3-0 in the fourth on Tiffany Haas' sacrifice fly. Tracie Adix (23-9) allowed three runs on four hits for DePaul (45-20).

In the first game, the Vols (65-13) scored the only run in the sixth when Arizona right fielder Adrienne Acton's throw to first base after a single by Katherine Card was wild, allowing pinch-runner Ashley Cline to score.

Abbott (48-7) retired the first 14 batters before Callista Balko singled with two outs in the fifth for Arizona's lone hit. Abbott, who struck out 12, has 32 shutouts this season, and Tennessee has an NCAA Division I-record 49.

Arizona's Alicia Hollowell (30-8) pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and striking out 12 for the Wildcats (44-11).

In the second game, UCLA (37-18) tied Cal at 1 on Ashley Herrera's homer off Kelly Anderson (28-9) in the fifth, and took the lead on Krista Colburn's single off Kristina Thorson in the sixth.

Cal (52-14), which has played in the past three championship games and won it all in 2002, scored its only run in the third when Vicky Galindo singled, stole second and scored on pitcher Anjelica Seldon's throwing error. Seldon (26-12) allowed three hits in the complete-game victory.

In the final game, Texas' Cat Osterman (29-6) struck out 17 in a one-hitter.

Texas (48-11) scored all of its runs in the sixth inning. Tina Boutelle drove in the first run with a double to center, and Chez Sievers and Desiree Williams added run-scoring singles. Stephanie VanBrakle (33-7) allowed four hits for Alabama (62-14).