Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
16-16
BYU
20-7
OSU Softball Falls in Series Finale
March 21, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball
March 21, 2015
PROVO, Utah - After dropping a doubleheader to BYU on Friday, the Oklahoma State softball team was swept in Saturday's series finale, as the Cowgirls fell, 10-2, at Gail Miller Field in Provo, Utah.
The loss sends OSU to 16-16 on the season, and concludes a 2-3 mark for the team during its five-game roadtrip.
Oklahoma State put pressure on the home side early on, as the Cowgirls loaded the bases with only one out in the first. Shelby Davis reached on an error, Tiffany Mikkelson singled to short and Vanessa Shippy reached on a HPB to lead off the contest. BYU starter Arianna Paulson buckled down, though, forced two-consecutive pop outs to end the inning.
The Cougars turned around and took the lead in the bottom of the frame, beginning with Gordy Bravo's single to lead off the inning. Bravo would eventually reach home on Sydney Broderick's two-out single later in the inning. BYU tacked on two more in the second, but the Cowgirls would provide a quick response.
After going down in order in the second, the Cowgirls threatened again in the third, as Shianne Hughes, Mikkelson and Shippy loaded the bases. Three batters later, Gessenia DeLaCruz drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Mikkelson, cutting the deficit to 3-1 after three innings.
BYU's bats began to heat up in the fourth, and the Cougars used three u runs to take a commanding 6-1 lead. After a throwing error from pitcher Jessi Haffner, Lauren Bell and Mercedes O'Conner provided back-to-back run-scoring at-bats to break the contest open.
Mikkelson's based-loaded walk in the sixth put the Cowgirls back in the scoring column, but Ashley Thompson's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth would clinch the Cougars' run-rule victory.
Overall, Oklahoma State left 11 runners on base and fell victim to four double plays over the course of the game. Hughes (2-3) and Mikkelson (2-3, RBI) finished with two hits apiece to lead the Cowgirls offensively.
Next up, OSU will host Tulsa for a mid-week tilt on Wednesday, March 25, marking the team's final non-conference matchup before opening conference play at Baylor next weekend.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: PAULSON, Arianna (1-2)
L: Needham, Brandi (9-6)
Batting:
RBI: Mikkelson, Tiffany 1 ; DeLaCruz, Gessenia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mikkelson, Tiffany 1 ; Patton, Michaela 1
HBP: Shippy, Vanessa 1 ; Patton, Michaela 2
Batting:
2B: BRAVO, Gordy 1 ; ST. CLAIR, McKenzie 1
HR: THOMPSON, Ashley 1 ; TAUALI'I, Coco 1
RBI: BELL, Lauren 2 ; O'CONNOR, Mercedes 1 ; THOMPSON, Ashley 2 ; BRODERICK, Sydney 1 ; TAUALI'I, Coco 1 ; ARNOLD, Megan 2
SH: O'CONNOR, Mercedes 1
SF: BELL, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BRAVO, Gordy 1 ; BELL, Lauren 1 ; O'CONNOR, Mercedes 1 ; THOMPSON, Ashley 1 ; BRODERICK, Sydney 1 ; ST. CLAIR, McKenzie 1 ; TAUALI'I, Coco 2 ; STRID, Alexa 1 ; HOFSTEDT, Lacey 1
SB: BRODERICK, Sydney 1
