OKLAHOMA CITY — Defending champion Arizona State picked up right where it left off at the Women’s College World Series, pouncing on Missouri with six early runs and coasting to a 7-3 victory Thursday.

The Sun Devils (47-17) finished last year’s title run with a seven-run seventh inning to beat Texas A&M 11-0, and came out with another offensive onslaught in their opening game this year.
The first five batters reached base in a three-run first inning for Arizona State, and the Sun Devils tacked on three runs in the second off starter Chelsea Thomas (16-6).
Thomas hadn’t given up more than four earned runs in a game all season, but fell victim to several singles by the Sun Devils. None of Arizona State’s 13 hits went for extra bases.
Marla Schweisberger hit a solo home run off Hillary Bach (31-9), and Rhea Taylor had an RBI double for Missouri (50-11).