Cowgirls Blow By Kansas For Second Big 12 Sweep

Saturday, April 1

Stillwater, OK

1:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

25-11, 0

Kansas

19-17, 0

Kansas

OKLAHOMA STATE

April 01, 2017 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

STILLWATER, Okla. ---- Oklahoma State softball used another strong pitching performance by Brandi Needham and timely hitting Saturday to defeat Kansas, 7-1. The Cowgirls improved to 6-0 in Big 12 action after sweeping the last two series. Oklahoma State has won 17 of its last 20 games.

With the win, OSU tied its Big 12-win total from 2016. The Cowgirls are now just four wins short of matching last season's regular season win total.

This marks the first time since 2010 the Cowgirls have started 6-0 or better in conference play. Head coach Kenny Gajewski moved to 12-11 in Big 12 games with the sweep.

"Good job for our kids to start 6-0," Gajewski said. "Just to do it the way we are, pitching, is a big deal for us. I thought our approach today was way better against Reid. The result was better than last night. I was very happy with the way Brandi and Shea threw again. Some timely hitting. I thought Alex Edinger had a big day. We're starting to hit on some good things. Playing error free is a big deal for us."

The Cowgirls (25-11 overall, 6-0 Big 12) started the scoring effort early once again with Vanessa Shippy's RBI single to score Taylor Lynch and give OSU a 1-0 lead after one.

The scoring effort continued in the third thanks to Lynch, Alex Edinger and Randee O'Donnell RBIs to score four in the inning and extend the lead to 5-0 after four.

Kansas (19-17, 1-5) looked to mount a comeback in the top of the six with a leadoff home run to cut the OSU lead to 5-1 but it proved to be not enough.

OSU tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth thanks to Rylee Bayless' third home run of the year and Edinger's RBI single. The Cowgirls wouldn't surrender the 7-1 lead.

Edinger led the way at the plate for the Cowgirls going 3-for-4 with a game-high three RBIs. Lynch was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Bayless finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Shippy went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

"Our energy in the dugout is really going well right now," Lynch said. "I think that's a huge part on why we're winning so many games. It does change the momentum of the game a lot."

Brandi Needham (12-4) earned the win in the circle going five innings, allowing six hits and a run.

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Up Next: Oklahoma State hosts Tulsa Wednesday, April 5 at 6 p.m. Fans can catch the game on 105.5 FM in Stillwater. Live stats will be on okstate.com or updates will be on Twitter (@CowgirlSB).