Cowgirls Sweep A Pair Of Games In Comeback Fashion

Thursday, February 23

Palm Springs, CA

12:00 PM CT

Oklahoma State University

6-5

Long Beach State

4-4-1

Long Beach State

OKLAHOMA STATE

February 23, 2017 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. ---- Oklahoma State Softball won a pair of games Thursday in comeback fashion to open the Mary Nutter Classic. The Cowgirls defeated Long Beach State in the first game, 6-4, before taking down UC Santa Barbara, 4-3, in the second.

Overall, the Cowgirls scored six of their 10 runs in the sixth inning to propel themselves to comeback victories.

"I don't know what it was about the sixth inning, maybe it's our lucky charm," head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "We just found a way in the sixth. We had some good at bats and finally put some good ones together. I'm excited to see what this offense can do when it really clicks because we're getting runners on base like crazy, we just can't seem to hit them in."

OSU (7-5) started the day with a win over LBSU. The 49ers struck first with a 1-0 lead after the first inning before the teams held each other scoreless for the next two innings.

Oklahoma State got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Randee O'Donnell doubled to center field scoring Lauren Mason and tying the game at, 1-1.

LBSU responded with three runs in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1. However, Jessi Haffner's RBI single scored Alex Edinger and made it 4-2 after five.

Vanessa Shippy's RBI double in the bottom of the sixth scored Maddi Holcomb and cut the deficit to 4-3. Taylor Lynch brought home two runs with an RBI single down the right field line, giving OSU a 5-4 lead. Hayleigh Galvan plated another run for the Cowgirls with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field making it 6-4.

In the circle, Brandi Needham (4-1) go the start against LBSU, allowing just six hits on her way to earning the win. Logan Simunek came on in the seventh to earn her first career save.

Oklahoma State was led offensively by Lynch, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Alongside Lynch, Shippy went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

The second game was almost identical for the Cowgirls. Santa Barbara scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead.

Shippy cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second with an RBI-triple down the left field line scoring Edinger. Madi Sue Montgomery's RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth inning scored Holcomb and tied the game at 2-2.

UCSB scored one in the top of the sixth to regain the lead at 3-2, but the Cowgirls wouldn't go down easy.

Lynch delivered with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to score two runs and gave Oklahoma State the eventual 4-3 lead it wouldn't give up.

Simunek (3-1) earned the win in the circle for the Cowgirls, going two innings and not giving up a hit.

The Cowgirls were led offensively by Shippy, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

With the two games, Lynch extended her hitting streak to 12 games. She set the school record with a 23-game hitting streak last season.

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Up Next: Oklahoma State returns to action in the Mary Nutter Classic tomorrow with another doubleheader. The Cowgirls take on California at 3 pm before playing San Diego State at 8 pm. Fans can follow along on Twitter (@CowgirlSB) or with live stats on okstate.com.