Cowgirls' Offense Stalls Against Stanford

Saturday, February 21

Palm Springs, Calif.

5:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

3-7

Stanford

9-5

Oklahoma State

Stanford

February 21, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

Feb. 21, 2015

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Despite producing several scoring opportunities, the Oklahoma State softball team was defeated by Stanford, 4-0, on Friday, as the Cowgirls continued play at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.

Box Score

“We had several opportunities to push a run across, but we just couldn't string our hits together at the right time,” head coach Rich Wieligman said. “Stanford's a good team, and if we had capitalized on those run-scoring situations, we would have had a good chance to beat them.”

After falling in a close battle with eighth-ranked Florida State on Friday, OSU (3-7) and starting pitcher Brandi Needham looked to get back in the win column against the Cardinal (9-5).

Needham forced two quick outs to open the bottom of the first, but Stanford would open the scoring on back-to-back base-hits down the left field line. After Kayla Bonstrom's double, Jessica Plaza dropped a bloop base-hit just over Tiffany Mikkelson's head, giving the Cardinal an early 1-0 advantage.

The Cowgirl starter would make a quick recovery in the second, needing only seven pitches to send the Cardinal down in order. With one out, Needham received some help from her defense, as centerfielder Shelby Davis made a spectacular diving catch on a shallow blooper off the bat of Bessie Noll.

Shianne Hughes helped Oklahoma State earn its first scoring opportunity in the fourth, as she beat out an infield single to lead off the inning. Hughes then advanced to second on Mikkelson's single to center, and would move to third on Danielle Riddle's grounder to first. With two on and two out, Darcy Taylor sent a high chopper to third, but was unable to beat the throw and continue the inning.

The Cowgirls would threaten again in the fifth, putting runners on the corners in a two-out situation. Randee O'Donnell worked a walk to open the inning, and would reach third on Davis' single to left. However, Hughes was unable to capitalize in the following at-bat, as a groundout to the pitcher ended the Cowgirl threat.

In the bottom of the frame, the Cardinal would see its lead increase to 4-0 on Bonstrom's two-run homer over the right field fence.

The game remained scoreless going into the top of the seventh inning, when the Cowgirls again put runners in scoring position. With two outs, Davis and Maddi Holcomb stood on first and second base, respectively, with Hughes coming to the plate. The junior grounded out to second, though, and was unable to keep the inning alive.

In the circle, Needham posted two strikeouts through six innings, and kept the Cowgirls in the game with only four earned runs.

Oklahoma State will wrap up play at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a doubleheader on Sunday, beginning with a 3:30 p.m. CT matchup against Fresno State.