No. 18 OSU defeats No. 21 Illinois 7-3

Sunday, March 21

Tampa, Fla.

8:00 AM

Oklahoma State University

26-7

Illinois

21-3

Illinois

Oklahoma State

Julie Ward now has 42 RBIs on the season.

March 21, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

March 21, 2010

Final Stats

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The No. 18 Oklahoma State softball team defeated No. 21 Illinois 7-3 on Sunday morning to finish 4-1 in the USF-The Game Tournament and is now 26-7 on the season. Sophomore Julie Ward went 2-for-3 in the game, hitting two doubles and knocking in one run.

The Cowgirls scored five runs in the second inning off two hits and two Illini errors. Ward led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. After Amy Graham got on with a walk, Chelsea Garcia safely reached first because of a shortstop error and Ward scored from third.

Kelsey Anchors stepped up and hit the ball through the right side to score Graham from second. Mariah Gearhart loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch and Katelyn Bright hit a fly ball to center field that was mishandled and three runs scored.

Oklahoma State added two more runs in the fifth inning as Bright led off with a single to center field. After advancing to second on a ground out, she scored on a double to center field from Ward. Megan Castle hit a double to right field two batters later and scored Ward from second.

Freshman Kat Espinosa started in the circle for the Cowgirls and senior Anna Whiddon came in for relief in the fifth. The two combined for seven strikeouts and only gave up three hits in the game for three runs. Hollie Pinchback hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and Meredith Hackett hit a solo home run in the sixth. Espinosa is now 9-3 on the season.

The Cowgirls will continue to play games on the road this week as the play at Wichita State on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and at Missouri State on Thursday at 5 p.m. Oklahoma State will open up conference play next weekend in Stillwater as they will host the Baylor Bears on Saturday and Sunday.