OSU Softball: Cowgirls Fall To Kansas In Extra Innings

Despite a fine pitching performance by sophomore Brandi Needham and a 3-for-4 effort from leadoff hitter Shelby Davis, Oklahoma State's softball team lost to the 23rd-ranked Kansas Jayhawks 3-2 here this afternoon in eight innings. KU swept the Cowgirls in the three-game series.

Oklahoma State got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning. Mallory Collins followed up a leadoff hit by Michaela Patton with a base hit of her own, and Patton scored on a two-out single by Davis just past the outstretched glove of the KU centerfielder.

The Jayhawks responded in the top of the third and took a 2-1 lead when Chaley Brickey and Maddie Stein each recorded run-scoring doubles. In the bottom of the fifth, Oklahoma State tied the contest when Davis reached on a bunt single and moved to second on a throwing error by the KU third baseman attempting to make a play. A sacrifice bunt by Shianne Hughes and a sacrifice fly by Tiffany Mikkelson knotted the game at 2-2.

Needham retired seven-consecutive batters from the fifth through the seventh inning before Kansas' nine-hole hitter reached on an error. However, Needham forced a ground out to give OSU an opportunity in regulation.

The Jayhawks threw off the Cowgirl hitters by bringing in pitcher Sophia Templin to relieve starter Alicia Pille. Templin got three outs in the bottom of the seventh, two via strikeout.

In the top of the eighth, Lily Behrmann led off with a single up the middle, and advanced to second on a sac bunt. She then scored on a chopper off the bat of Danielle Chavez that bounced just over first-baseman Danielle Riddle's outstretched glove. Despite getting the next two outs, OSU failed to score in the bottom half of the frame and the Cowgirls lost their fourth one-run game in six tries during league play.

Davis recorded two stolen bases on Saturday and now has 43 on the season, the second-most in a single-season in school history. She has 107 in her career, one short of Shanel Scott's 108 for second place on the OSU career stolen bases list, and just eight shy of the school record of 115 held by Mariah Gearhart.

Oklahoma State (17-21 overall, 1-5 Big 12) will travel north and face Wichita State on Wednesday night before heading to Ames, Iowa, for a three-game Big 12 series with Iowa State.