Cowgirl Softball Splits Doubleheader with Dartmouth

Friday, March 4

Stillwater, OK

4:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

7-10

Dartmouth

1-5

Dartmouth

Oklahoma State

March 04, 2016 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State softball team provided the home crowd with an 8-0 victory over Dartmouth in the team's home opener on Friday night before falling to the Big Green in the second half of the doubleheader, 5-2, at Cowgirl Stadium.

The Cowgirls' opening-night win over Dartmouth was highlighted by a one-hit, complete game shutout from pitcher Kacy Freeze, who dominated the Big Green in a five inning run-rule victory. Oklahoma State attempted to formulate a come-from-behind victory in the nightcap, but earned a split in the doubleheader after dropping a 5-2 decision.

Game One – Oklahoma State 8, Dartmouth 0 (5)
After playing on the road for the first 16 games of the season, Oklahoma State provided its fans with a memorable run-rule victory in the first half of Friday's doubleheader.

Senior Kacy Freeze registered a career performance in the circle, as she allowed only one base-hit to the Big Green in a complete game shutout. The Splendora, Texas, native needed only 57 pitches to navigate through the Dartmouth attack.

"It was great to be at home, and our crowd was awesome," head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "It feels good to be here and have our own fans at our backs. Kacy Freeze set the tone early on, and was probably as good as she's been all year. We swung the bats well, and it was a good all-around game."

Freeze got a big boost from the Cowgirl offense early on, as Oklahoma State pounded out four runs in the bottom of the first inning, each coming with two outs. The Cowgirls' hot start ultimately knocked Dartmouth starter Morgan McCalmon out of the game after the opening frame.

With the bases loaded, Darcy Taylor drew a walk to put the home side on top, 1-0. In the next at-bat, Miranda Cavin lined a single to right that snuck under the glove of Dartmouth's Lourlin Lara, allowing all three runs to score. Cavin earned a pair of RBIs on the play, capping off a big first inning for the Cowgirls.

Oklahoma State's strong eye at the plate paid off again in the second, as Tiffany Mikkelson and Taylor each drew based-loaded walks to extend the Cowgirl advantage to 6-0. In total, OSU drew seven walks on the night, helping the team pound on eight runs on only seven hits.

With a commanding lead in hand, Oklahoma State continued to fire on offense, as Red Reasnor hit a solo blast in the fourth, giving the junior her third home run of the season.

The Cowgirls capped off their home opener in style thanks to a walk-off sacrifice fly from Taylor Lynch. With Dre McKee standing on third, Lynch hit a 2-0 pitch to deep center, allowing McKee to trot home with the game-clinching run.

Dartmouth's only base-hit of the contest came in the top of the fifth, when Chloe Madill squeaked a single between Lynch and Randee O'Donnell on the left side of the infield.

Shippy (2-for-4, R) paced the Cowgirls offensively, while Cavin and Taylor each added in multi-RBI efforts during the first half of the twin-bill.

Game Two – Dartmouth 5, Oklahoma State 2
In the second half of Friday's doubleheader, the Cowgirls sent Shea Coats to the circle against McCalmon, who again earned the start after only surviving an inning in Oklahoma State's run-rule victory.

Making her first start since defeating No. 9 Washington on Feb. 26, Coats struggled early on against the Big Green, as she gave up an RBI single in the first and a two-run home run in the third. However, Coats kept the Cowgirls within three runs in three innings of work, and allowed only three base-hits to the opposing side in the defeat.

McCalmon was effective this time around, as she rebounded with a strong performance in the circle by shutting out the Cowgirls for the first five innings. Oklahoma State put runners in scoring position several times throughout the night, but eventually left 11 runners on base and went 3-for-12 at the plate in potential run-scoring situations.

"We're just taking steps, and sometimes we can't get out of our own way," Gajewski said. "We spotted them a couple of runs and were able to battle back, but couldn't quite scratch across those last two runs."

Oklahoma State finally got its bats going in the bottom of the sixth, beginning with a leadoff single from Reasnor. Mikkelson followed with an RBI double, and came home to score when O'Donnell laced a single through the left side of the infield.

With runners on first and second and no outs, the Cowgirls stood in position to do more damage against the Big Green. However, Berkley Faulkner, Maddi Holcomb and Shippy went down in order against relief pitcher Lauren Stone, leaving Oklahoma
State with a 3-2 deficit going into the final inning.

Dartmouth added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to earn a three-run cushion, but Oklahoma State wasn't done at the dish. The Cowgirls loaded the bases and put the go-ahead run at the plate, but pinch hitter Miranda Cavin popped out to third, ending the hopes of an OSU comeback.

Oklahoma State will return to action on Wednesday, March 9, as it hosts Wichita State at 6:30 p.m.