Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
42-19
Baylor
46-13
Cowgirls Drop 1-0 Heartbreaker at WCWS
June 02, 2011 | Cowgirl Softball
June 2, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma State's softball team opened play in its first Women's College World Series since 1998 Thursday, as the Cowgirls suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Baylor in front of 7,280 fans, a session one attendance record, at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Cowgirls (42-19) and Bears (46-13) maintained a 0-0 tie through seven innings as both team threatened often, but the BU's Kelsi Kettler finally brought the game to an end with a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
After a quick first inning, the game picked up excitement in the bottom of the second. With one on and two outs, OSU's Tamara Brown made a highlight-reel catch as she stretched over the top of the left field wall to take a two-run home run away from Baylor's Megan Turk and end the inning.
Oklahoma State answered with offensive threats of its own in the third. Ari Morrison nearly scored from first as Baylor's right fielder Kayce Walker bobbled an Alysia Hamilton line drive, but Walker recovered just in time to get the ball in and first baseman Holly Holl threw out Morrison at the plate to end the top of the third.
The Bears pressured again in the fifth as Holl and Kathy Shelton started the inning with a pair of singles and advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, but OSU got out of the jam with a pair of nice plays from third baseman Mariah Gearhart. The senior threw out pinch-runner Makenzie Robertson at the plate on a chopper from Kettler and followed it by fielding another bouncing grounder from Sydney Wilson to get the out at first and end the inning.
With neither team able to put a run on the board, the game went into extra innings in a scoreless tie.
Baylor finally broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth inning as Kettler's solo shot sailed just inches over the wall near the left field line.
The Cowgirls resume play in the WCWS Saturday at 11 a.m. when they take on California, who fell 1-0 to Alabama earlier Thursday.
Oklahoma State is playing in its first Women's College World Series since 1998. The Cowgirls, along with Texas A&M, lead the Big 12 with seven all-time appearances. OSU's best finish in the event is third place, occurring in 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1994. It's overall record at the WCWS moves to 11-13 with the loss.
Additional Notes
- Ari Morrison's stolen base in the first inning was her 15th of the season.
- The Cowgirls had a base runner in every inning except the fifth and eighth.
- The attendance of 7,280 was a WCWS Session 1 record.
- OSU is now 11-13 all-time at the WCWS.
- Both teams had a runner thrown out the plate.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Canion (30-10)
L: Espinosa, Kat (23-9)
Base Running:
SB: Morrison, Ari 1
Batting:
HR: Kettler 1
RBI: Kettler 1
SH: Turk 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kettler 1
SB: Kettler 1
CS: Leal 1
