Oklahoma State Softball Notebook: Weekend Review (2/18)
It wasn't a perfect weekend, but it was a weekend the Oklahoma State Cowgirls needed.
After going 5-0 last weekend, the Cowgirls were looking prime and ready for the Clearwater Invitational.
It didn't go as planned as OSU went 1-2 on the weekend, including losing two games to ranked teams; No. 4-ranked Georgia and No. 12-ranked LSU.
Weather played a factor as well as the Oklahoma State's contests against Northwestern and Georgia Tech were canceled.
With a weekend full of ups and downs, the Cowgirls did show a lot of promise on the weekend, but it didn't start out that way on Friday.
Friday: 7-4 Loss Over Georgia; 9-5 Win Over Wisconsin
OSU's Friday morning started out strong, but it couldn't finish the job, losing to the No. 4-ranked Bulldogs.
Kyra Aycock would get the start in the circle, and it was a rollercoaster ride. Through the first four innings, she would give up zero runs with only one hit. In the last two, she would give up three runs with one hit, including an error.
Lexi Kilfoyl would come in to replace Aycock, and she would struggle as well, giving up four runs on five hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings pitched.
The Cowgirls jumped out to a 4-0 lead and controlled that lead through the first four innings. When the fifth inning came along, that was different.
Two errors resulted in four runs for the Bulldogs in the fifth inning, including Lyndi Rae Davis launching a three-run home run, tying the game up at 4-4.
Georgia would secure three more runs in the sixth, en route to a comeback victory over the Cowgirls.
OSU would bounce back Friday afternoon, coming back and taking down Wisconsin, improving to 6-1 on the season.
Freshman Katie Kutz would get the start, but it wouldn't fare well, giving up five runs on six hits with two strikeouts in two innings of work.
Ivy Rosenberry and Kilfoyl would come in and secure the victory, combining to give up zero runs on two hits with four strikeouts in the last five innings.
Rosie Davis was the bright spot in the offense, going 3 for 4 with one RBI, which was an RBI-single to tie it up 5-5 in the fifth inning against the Badgers.
After Macy Graf scored on a wild pitch to take a 6-5 lead in the fifth, the Cowgirls would add three more runs in the seventh, pulling away and securing the bounce-back victory over Wisconsin.
Saturday: 7-6 Loss to LSU
LSU's Hannah Carson would hit a walk-off single in the seventh inning, scoring Ali Newland and Maia Townsend, helping the Tigers take the victory over the Cowgirls.
The Tigers improved to 8-0 on the season, while the Cowgirls fell to 6-2 on the young season.
Aycock got the nod, and she wasn't her usual self, giving up five runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings pitched.
Rosenberry would replace her, and she sustained the damage, giving up zero runs on four hits with two strikeouts in four innings of work.
OSU would put up a five spot in the third inning, including Davis hitting an RBI-single into center field, scoring Jilyen Poullard and putting OSU up 6-5.
The Cowgirls would hold steady, until the seventh inning.
Kilfoyl would come in late in the sixth inning and would get the final out of the inning, taking the lead to the seventh.
LSU's Taylor Pleasants would get things started in the seventh, hitting a shot along the left side for a single.
Newland would draw a walk, and she and Pleasants would advance on a wild pitch, putting runners on second and third.
McKenzie Redoutey would reach on a walk as well, setting up bases loaded with one out.
Carson would be the hero, hitting the two-RBI single and saving LSU's perfect start to the season.
OSU will stay in Florida, and it will take on No. 16-ranked Florida Gators on Monday at 5 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
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