Cowgirls Finish Season In Regional Championship

Sunday, May 22

Athens, Ga.

Noon

Oklahoma State University

32-25

Georgia

42-18

Georgia

Oklahoma State

May 22, 2016 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ATHENS, Ga. — Oklahoma State softball forced a winner-take-all finale at the NCAA Georgia Regional Sunday but saw its season come to an end after splitting a pair of games with Georgia.

The Cowgirls won three-consecutive elimination games to highlight a strong postseason run under first-year head coach Kenny Gajewski. Oklahoma State defeated the Bulldogs, 5-3, in game one but dropped the title game, 6-0, at Jack Turner Stadium.

Oklahoma State (32-26) tied a program record with three-consecutive postseason elimination game wins with the victory over Georgia in the first game.

"This season was awesome," Gajewski said. "It's hard to put into words now, but I'm very proud of these kids and what they had done. We have a proud history at our school that I told our players that had gotten dusty. I feel like they have cleaned that off and our older players have really helped us get back on track. We also have younger players that are exciting for a coach to know that they are coming back. We have some good pieces to build around.

"I'm happy for our players. I'm sad that this had to come to an end, but I'm very happy with what we did in our first year and just looking forward to the future."

Georgia (43-18) scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead in the second game of the day.

The game would turn into a pitcher's duel from there, as both teams held each other scoreless for the next three innings.

Georgia added four more runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 6-0.

Junior Shea Coats (6-3) took the loss for the Cowgirls in 4.2 innings of work.

The Bulldogs started the first game in similar fashion, and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Oklahoma State responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning thanks to Kristin Reasnor's two-out RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

Sophomore Vanessa Shippy singled the following inning to bring home senior Dre McKee, and give the Cowgirls a 3-2 lead after two.

Georgia responded with a run in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3.

Back-to-back bunts with bases loaded from freshman Madi Sue Montgomery and senior Tiffany Mikkelson brought home two runs, and gave the Cowgirls the eventual 5-3 lead they wouldn't lose.

Senior Kacy Freeze (19-10) earned the win for Oklahoma State in seven innings of action.

"Coming to Oklahoma State was the best choice that I've ever made," Freeze said. "I couldn't be more proud or happy to be a part of this team. We did great things and I'm happy that we ended this way."

At the plate, Reasnor, who finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs, led the Cowgirls.

Playing in the regional championship game, Oklahoma State had a chance to advance to a super regional for the first time since 2011.

"I think the word proud has been tossed around a lot and that's what we are," Shippy said. "I think the way that this ended, it's sad that it had to come to an end, but the fight that we showed today is just proof that our team is heading in the right direction.

"Getting to play with the seniors this year and getting to know my teammates and the bonds that we have formed have been great. The season has been up and down, but we ended on a high note and we are moving forward."