Saturday College Softball Roundup

OSU Falls To Kansas

The Oklahoma State softball team hit three home runs here Saturday afternoon, but fell to Kansas 9-7 in the second game of the three-game series at Cowgirl Stadium.

Just as they did Friday night, the Cowgirls (25-21, 3-8 Big 12) struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when freshman Tiffany Mikkelson belted a two-run home run to left center, scoring senior Samantha Chrisman, who had led off the inning with a double.

The Jayhawks (27-12, 4-4) cut the lead in half in the top of the third on a solo homer by Alex Hugo.

The Cowgirls would get the run the run back, and then some, in the bottom of the frame on Chrisman's two-run home run to left center to put OSU up 4-2.

However, Kansas scored eight unanswered runs, starting with one run in the top of the fourth. The Jayhawks added three more in the top of the fifth when Hugo crushed her second home run of the day, a three-run shot to center field. The Jayhawks added four more runs on five hits in the top of the sixth to increase their lead to 9-4.

The Cowgirls mounted a feverish rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, junior Tarah Ettinger hit a three-run shot, her ninth of the season, to left field to bring OSU within two runs. However, Kansas was able to stop the rally at 9-7.

Offensively, the Cowgirls had seven hits, including two each by Ettinger and Chrisman. Both players also scored two runs, and all seven RBIs game from the 3-4-5 hitters in OSU's lineup. Junior Ari Morrison and freshman Erika Campbell also had hits for OSU.

Senior Kat Espinosa (14-14) started in the circle and went five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Junior Simone Freeman came on in relief in the sixth inning and threw the final two innings, allowing four runs on six hits with one strike out.

The rubber match between these two teams is scheduled for Sunday at noon at the Cowgirl Softball Complex.

Sooners Taken Down By Rival Longhorns

No. 1 Oklahoma's seventh-inning rally came up just short, and the team's 11-game winning streak ended on Saturday night as the Sooners fell at No. 6/7 Texas, 4-2.

Trailing 4-1 entering the seventh, seniors Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults led off the frame with back-to-back walks. Two outs later, sophomore Jessica Vest lined a double over left fielder Torie Schmidt's head. Ricketts raced home from second to score, but Shults was thrown out at the plate to end the game.

The loss drops the Sooners to 38-3 overall and 7-1 in the Big 12, while Texas moves back into first place in the conference as its record improves to 39-5 on the year and 9-1 in league play.

Texas broke through first in the bottom of the first.

With runners on first and second, Taylor Thom put down a sacrifice bunt but Lauren Chamberlain's throw to first base was off the mark and the error enabled Taylor Hoagland to score. The Longhorns proceeded to then load the bases but OU starter Michelle Gascoigne got back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out to limit the damage.

The Longhorns padded their lead in the fourth with three runs.

With one out and the bases loaded, Thom singled to left field to bring home a pair of runners. Two batters later, Karina Scott delivered an RBI single of her own to left field to put UT on top 4-0.

Oklahoma cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth when sophomore Georgia Casey hit a solo home run to left center. It was her sixth of the year and 16th of her career.

Gascoigne took the loss for the Sooners. She gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits with six walks. The senior lefty did strike out 10 batters for her eighth double-digit strikeout effort of the season and the 22nd of her career.

The Sooners look to take the series and move back into first place in the series finale on Sunday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

TU Loses Both Games Of Doubleheader

No. 1 Oklahoma's seventh-inning rally came up just short, and the team's 11-game winning streak ended on Saturday night as the Sooners fell at No. 6/7 Texas, 4-2.

Trailing 4-1 entering the seventh, seniors Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults led off the frame with back-to-back walks. Two outs later, sophomore Jessica Vest lined a double over left fielder Torie Schmidt's head. Ricketts raced home from second to score, but Shults was thrown out at the plate to end the game.

The loss drops the Sooners to 38-3 overall and 7-1 in the Big 12, while Texas moves back into first place in the conference as its record improves to 39-5 on the year and 9-1 in league play.

Texas broke through first in the bottom of the first.

With runners on first and second, Taylor Thom put down a sacrifice bunt but Lauren Chamberlain's throw to first base was off the mark and the error enabled Taylor Hoagland to score. The Longhorns proceeded to then load the bases but OU starter Michelle Gascoigne got back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out to limit the damage.

The Longhorns padded their lead in the fourth with three runs.

With one out and the bases loaded, Thom singled to left field to bring home a pair of runners. Two batters later, Karina Scott delivered an RBI single of her own to left field to put UT on top 4-0.

Oklahoma cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth when sophomore Georgia Casey hit a solo home run to left center. It was her sixth of the year and 16th of her career.

Gascoigne took the loss for the Sooners. She gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits with six walks. The senior lefty did strike out 10 batters for her eighth double-digit strikeout effort of the season and the 22nd of her career.

The Sooners look to take the series and move back into first place in the series finale on Sunday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.