Heinlein's 2-run HR lifts Cowgirls past Missouri State

Thursday, April 23

Cowgirl Stadium

5:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

Missouri State

April 24, 2009 | Cowgirl Softball

Junior Sam Heinlein, who missed the last four games due to injury, hit a two-run pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the fifth, lifting the Oklahoma State softball team to a 4-2 win over Missouri State here Thursday evening at the Cowgirl Softball Complex. Heinlein rolled her ankle running to first base against Missouri on April 11. Pinch hitting for Megan Castle, the Edmond, Okla., native, hit a 1-1 pitch over the fence just inside the left-field foul pole with Alysia Hamilton on base. Missouri State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Brooke Kempker walked and with two outs, Ashley Knehans hit a ball up the middle. With runners on first and second, Jana Shewmaker hit a drive into centerfield, scoring Kempker. Oklahoma State responded in the bottom of the inning. Mariah Gearhart led off the inning with her first of two hits in the game. After stealing her team-high 29th base of the season, Katelyn Bright walked. Gearhart then scored on a hit up the middle by Hamilton, her team-leading 45th RBI of the season. Freshman Julie Ward followed that with an RBI single of her own, scoring Bright. The Bears evened the score in the third on a leadoff home run by Jessie Smith, her sixth of the season. Cowgirl junior Anna Whiddon came on in relief of starter Sarah Odom in the fifth inning and threw three scoreless innings. The righthander allowed just three hits while walking one and striking out four, improving her record to 15-11. Lauren McGinley started in the circle for Missouri State and took the loss, dropping to 9-9. Oklahoma State (30-17) will return to action this weekend as the Cowgirls return to Big 12 Conference action by hosting the Texas Longhorns. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 2 p.m.