Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Splits Doubleheader
October 05, 2014 | Cowgirl Softball
The Oklahoma State Cowgirl Softball team recorded its fourth-consecutive win of the fall exhibition season on Sunday, defeating Arkansas in the opening game of a doubleheader, 7-3, before falling in the second game, 14-5, at the Cowgirl Softball Complex.
In the opener, the Cowgirls jumped ahead early after reeling off three consecutive hits to open the bottom of the first. Senior Shelby Davis led off with a double down the left field line, advanced to third on a double off the bat of Maddie Holcomb and scored on Vanessa Shippy's run-scoring single. Holcomb would eventually cross the plate on an Arkansas fielding error, giving OSU a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.
Oklahoma State would grab another run in the second when Shippy slapped a single through the left side, scoring Davis. The Razorbacks responded with three runs in the fourth, though, tying the game after Michaela Patton was unable to handle a pop up behind short with two runners in scoring position.
The fourth would be the Razorback's only scoring frame, however, as the Cowgirls broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the inning. After
Patton, Shippy and Miranda Cavin loaded the bases, junior Tiffany Mikkelson lined a double into the right-center gap, bringing in Cavin and Shippy. Mikkelson would come around to score on the following play, as Danielle Riddle shot a two-run single up the middle to give the Cowgirls a 7-3 advantage
.
After struggling in the fourth, sophomore Meagan Lively concluded her day on the mound with a scoreless fifth, finishing with only one earned run through the first five frames. The Monroe, La., native recorded three strikeouts and allowed four hits before being relieved by Jessi Haffner, who tossed a hitless final two innings in the Cowgirls' victory.
In game two, it was the Razorbacks who gained an early lead, scoring six runs off sophomore Brandi Needham over the first two innings. The Oklahoma State bats came to Needham's aide after two-run base hits from Shippy and Mikkelson in the third, but Arkansas tacked on tacked on two more runs in the following frame, giving the Razorbacks an 8-5 lead after four innings.
Mallory Collins limited Arkansas' offensive attack by gunning down Razorback runners at the plate in the fourth and fifth, but the freshman's highlight throws were answered by five Arkansas runs in the sixth, sealing Arkansas' 14-5 victory.
Oklahoma State moves to 4-1 in fall play heading into next week's doubleheader in Tulsa. The Cowgirls will take on the Golden Hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 11, before concluding their fall exhibition season at home against Rogers State on Oct. 15.
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