Cowgirls Hold On For 6-5 Win Over Miami (OH)

Friday, March 11

Stillwater, OK

2:30 PM

Oklahoma State University

9-11

Miami (OH)

8-9

Oklahoma State

Miami (OH)

March 11, 2016 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State softball team opened up competition at the 2016 Mizuno Classic with a 6-5 victory over Miami (OH) on Friday.

After jumping out to a 6-1 lead, the Cowgirls (9-11) held off a feisty Redhawks squad that put the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs in the ninth. With the victory, Oklahoma State has now won three of its last four contests.

"It was a good team win, all the way around," head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "I thought we pitched well. Kacy [Freeze] pitched well, and I feel like she's getting better each time she comes out. We had some clutch hitting, and we finally showed some power."

Miami (OH) was fluid in the tournament opener earlier in the day, as it defeated Cleveland State, 5-1. The Redhawks brought the momentum from the victory into their first trip to the plate against the Cowgirls, as they took 1-0 lead on Johniann Wall's solo home run in the bottom of the first.

The Redhawks' early lead came against OSU starter Kacy Freeze, who recovered to retire nine of the next 11 batters after allowing a run in the first. Freeze posted six strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work, culminating in her third win in her last four appearances.

"I was happy with the way that she grinded through the whole game," Gajewski said. "We thought about taking her out at one point, but we decided to see if she could get it done. We just felt like the last batter was in Brandi's [Needham] favor, so we made the change. It worked out well."

Despite being out-hit, 10-6, on the day, the Oklahoma State offense provided scoring in bunches with three-spots in both the third and fourth innings. Miranda Cavin and Red Reasnor each drew bases-loaded walks in the third while Madi Sue Montgomery notched a sacrifice fly to center, helping the Cowgirls take a 3-1 lead going into the fourth.

An inning later, Taylor Lynch stepped the plate with a runner on and sliced a two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left, giving the freshman her first home run as a Cowgirl. Four pitches later, Tiffany Mikkelson blasted a solo moonshot over the left field wall, giving Oklahoma State a five-run cushion.

Miami (OH) began to crawl back in the fifth, as RBI singles from Michaela Schlattman and Wahl brought the Redhawks within three. The home side then notched runs in the sixth and the seventh, forcing the Cowgirls to bring Brandi Needham on to pitch with two outs and two on base in the deciding frame.

The junior buckled down, and after working the count to 3-2, she struck out Miami (OH)'s Jenna Jones to end the ballgame. Needham's crucial K earned the Dripping Springs, Texas, native her second save of the season.

On the offensive end, Lynch (2-for-3, 2 RBI, HR) led the way with her third multi-hit performance in her last five games.

Oklahoma State will continue action on the Mizuno Classic on Saturday, as it takes on Cleveland State at 2:30 p.m. and Miami (OH) at 5 p.m.