Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Split on Opening Day
June 21, 1999 | Cowgirl Softball
February 12, 1999
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Oklahoma State's softball team split two games on the first day of the regular season here Friday in pool play of the UTA/Pepsi-Cola InterCollegiate Tournament. OSU lost to Southern Miss in the first game, 8-2, before defeating Texas-San Antonio, 5-3, in the afternoon game.
Against USM, the Cowgirl pitching staff gave up eight runs, but three were unearned as the OSU defense committed five errors in the game. Sarah Knife Chief, a transfer from Louisiana State, started for Oklahoma State, and gave up a home run. Senior Melissa Turley had the only extra-base hit for the Cowgirls with a double. OSU's pitchers did have eight strikeouts in the game.
In game two, Knife Chief pitched a complete game against UTSA. Senior All- American Jaime Foutch hit her first home run of the season with one on in the bottom of the fifth, giving OSU a 4-3 lead. Knife Chief gave up two home runs, both solo shots, and had eight strikeouts. Oklahoma State added an insurance run in the sixth when Shelly Graham doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jennifer Olival, and scored on a wild pitch.
Foutch finished the game going 2-for-4 with the homer and four RBIs, while freshman Jenny Kipp went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
"We had a lot more energy in the second game today, and got rid of a lot of jitters," said OSU assistant coach Kim Ward. "Everyone was nervous in the morning game, as evidenced by the five errors we had. We'll be ready to play tomorrow."
Oklahoma State (1-1) will play 25th-ranked Oregon on Saturday at 9 a.m. before bracket play begins that afternoon.
Southern Mississippi 8, Oklahoma State 2 USM 012 221 0 - 8 12 1 OSU 000 010 1 - 2 5 5 Knife Chief, Jenkins (3), Anderson (4) and Silva, Singer (5). Blades and Maulorico. WP: Blades (1-0). LP: Knife Chief (0-1). 2B: USM-McMains, Berman; OSU-Turley (1). HR: USM-Ford, Maulorico.Oklahoma State 5, Texas-San Antonio 3 UTSA 101 010 0 - 3 6 2 OSU 101 021 x - 5 6 1 Knife Chief and Singer. Briggs, Hayes (2), Briggs (6) and McElyea. 2B: UTSA-McElyea; OSU-Graham (1). HR: UTSA-Michalsky 2; OSU-Foutch (1).
