Oklahoma State Softball Wins Seventh Straight

Oklahoma State Softball belted a season-high four home runs Wednesday highlighting a 10-2 run-rule victory over Central Arkansas. The Cowgirls had eight hits in the five-inning game and extended their winning streak to seven games. OSU improved to 14-12 on the year.

Senior Samantha Chrisman smashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Cowgirls an early 2-0 lead.

OSU added three more runs in the third inning. Senior Tamara Brown led off the inning with a double over the center fielder's head. She would later score on a Tiffany Mikkelson double down the left field line. Senior Amy Graham plated the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field. OSU led 5-0 after three innings of play.

Central Arkansas (19-7) rallied in the top of the fourth inning. The Bears hit a timely double down the left field line that scored a pair of runs with two outs.

OSU erupted in the home half of the fourth with five runs and sealed the victory. Sophomore Gessenia DeLaCruz started the offensive onslaught with a towering home run down the left field line. Three batters later, junior Tarah Ettinger bashed a two-run homer to left. The final two runs for OSU came on a Mikkelson home run to left. The Cowgirls had five hits in the inning including the three homers.

Senior Kat Espinosa (7-6) was nearly untouchable in the circle. In four innings of work, Espinosa had seven strikeouts, gave up two hits and walked one. Junior Simone Freeman came on in relief and pitched the final three outs. Freeman struck out two and forced a pop out to end the game.

Offensively for OSU, Mikkelson, Ettinger and Brown each had two hits.

OSU ends its home stand and will hit the road this weekend. The Cowgirls travel to Clearwater, Fla., to participate in the University of South Florida Spring Invitational. OSU opens the tournament Friday against Rutgers at 3 p.m. and Maryland at 5:15 p.m. CT.