Cowgirl Softball Sweeps Pair Of Games To Move To 3-1

Saturday, February 11

Baton Rouge, LA

10:00 AM

Oklahoma State University

2-1

McNeese State

2-2

McNeese

OKLAHOMA STATE

Photo by: Stephen Lew

February 11, 2017 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BATON ROUGE, La. ---- Oklahoma State softball won a pair of games Saturday in its second day of the Tiger Classic at Tiger Stadium. The Cowgirls defeated McNeese State, 6-5, in the first game, before taking down Penn State, 1-0, in game two.

In extra innings against McNeese State, sophomore Taylor Lynch delivered with an RBI sacrifice fly to give the Cowgirls the win. Senior pitcher Brandi Needham threw a complete game shutout to secure the win over Penn State.

"This was a good day," head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "We were able to come back and get that first game tied, and then to win that game. It was something we didn't do last year. We came back in a bunch of games and got that score tied, but we could just never get over the hump and win a game. So that felt good. Just another good step for this team, and this program as we try to improve. We had a big hit from Rylee, lot of quality at-bats. And I tell you what, the freshman Logan, she was lights out. Really good outing for her. It's good to see some newcomers be a big part in these wins."

After an offensive showing in the first game, the Cowgirls showed they could win with defense and pitching in the second. Needham (2-0) went the distance, allowing just five hits while striking out four to earn the win against Penn State.

Oklahoma State (3-1) scored the lone run of the game in first inning off an RBI single from Lynch to score junior Vanessa Shippy.

"It's definitely one of the best starts I've had so far in my college career, which is really good," Needham said of her 2-0 record. "It feels a lot better to go two wins, no losses rather than two losses and no wins."

After her first two outings, Needham has pitched 11 scoreless innings out of her 12, and boasts an impressive 0.54 ERA.

In the first game of the day, Oklahoma State won in walk-off fashion against McNeese State (2-2) thanks to a key Lynch at-bat.

The Cowgirls trailed for most of the game until junior Rylee Bayless tied the game at, 5-5, in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, two outs and a full count, Bayless hit an opposite field grand slam. The towering blast was her first-career home run at Oklahoma State.

The game remained tied, 5-5, at the end of the seventh inning and forced the Cowgirls first extra inning game of the young season.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, OSU saw its first three batters reach base to load the bases for Lynch. She hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field to bring home the winning run.

Cowgirl freshman Logan Simunek (1-0) came on in relief and earned the win. Simunek went four innings, had a strikeout and retired all 12 batters faced to earn her first career win.

Bayless led all Cowgirls with a 2-for-4 effort and four RBIs. Lynch finished the game going 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

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Up Next: Oklahoma State finishes its opening weekend with a matchup against No. 5 LSU Sunday. First pitch is set for 12:30 and will be televised on the SEC Network +. Fans must have the SEC Network to watch on the Watch ESPN App. Live stats will be available on okstate.com.