Cowgirls Split on Day One of Michele Smith Invitational

Friday, February 16

Clearwater, FL

10 A.M. CT

Oklahoma State University

4-2

Tennessee

7-0

Tennessee

Oklahoma State

Photo by: Charles Taylor

February 16, 2018 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PDF Box Score - vs. TENN
PDF Box Score - vs. FAU
Updated Overall Stats

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Oklahoma State softball team split its two matchups on the opening day of the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational, falling to No. 10/10 Tennessee, 5-1, and besting Florida Atlantic, 5-3, in eight innings.

OSU (5-2) has now won 10 of its last 11 games against unranked opponents dating back to April 22, 2017.

"When you come back against a team like FAU that's a regional team and someone that is well coached - I thought it was a very well-played game," head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "We had one error that cost us a run, but I felt like overall our at-bats were really good. We hit balls all day today that were hit on the screws but they were right at them. Last week, those balls got through, got in gaps or were over the fence.

"We hit some balls today that in any other park in America, they would've been home runs. I thought we could've hit seven or eight home runs, but it just didn't happen. We're playing in a big park and the air is thick and so we need to find ways to make things go in other ways."

The Cowgirls took the early edge against Florida Atlantic in the day's second contest, as Sydney Pennington launched a home run over the left-field wall. Pennington also hit a solo shot to left in the opener against No. 10 Tennessee that served as OSU's only run of the contest.

Including her home run against Western Michigan last Sunday, Pennington has now hit a home run in three consecutive games. Pennington's three home runs are tied with Jessi Haffner for the lead among the Cowgirls, and her 12 runs batted in this season are the most by any Big 12 competitor.

"She's a young kid that had another amazing day," Gajewski said. "She just continues to grow and I'm really excited to see her and this team grow."

Emmie Robertson held the Owls scoreless for the game's first five innings, but Florida Atlantic squared the game at 1-1 in the home half of the sixth.

OSU quickly bounced back, tacking on two runs in the top of the seventh, but the Owls again responded by knotting the game with two runs of their own, forcing extra innings.

Senior Vanessa Shippy opened the eighth inning on second base, and Taylor Lynch quickly moved her forward with a double to center field. Madi Sue Montgomery then drove in Shippy with a sacrifice fly to center.

Oklahoma State added a second extra-inning run on a sacrifice fly when Sydney Pennington also flew one to center field, bringing home the pinch-running Taylor Pence from third. The two runs were enough for the Cowgirls to finish off the Owls, as Logan Simunek pitched two innings in relief to help seal the victory for OSU.

"I thought Emmie pitched really well until the very end - she just ran out of gas, but Logan came in and stepped up," Gajewski said. "We made one bad pitch that cost us a couple of runs, but overall it was a very good day and a good opportunity against good, regional teams to gain some experience in close, tight games. This team is really good and I'm excited about what our next day holds."

Earlier in the day against top-10 Tennessee, the Cowgirls found themselves in an early hole after surrendering two runs in the first frame. OSU also allowed a runner to cross in the second inning and a pair of Lady Volunteers scored on a two-out double by Abby Lockman in the top of the fifth.

Oklahoma State's lone run against UT came via Sydney Pennington's previously mentioned solo home run. The Cowgirls mustered three hits outside of the solo shot from Pennington.

"We just gave them too many free passes and that came back to haunt us," head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "We had great fight. Beside those free passes that Samantha (Clakley) gave up, I thought she pitched really well. She only gave up four hits and battled her way through the game, but we just didn't get enough hits and gave them a little too much. When you do that, it's going to come back to bite you."

The Cowgirls will take part in three more contests this weekend in Clearwater, beginning with Missouri and South Florida tomorrow at 9 a.m. CT and 2 p.m. CT, respectively.

For more information on the Cowgirls and their trip to the Michele Smith Invitational, follow the team on Twitter (@CowgirlSB), Facebook (Cowgirl Softball) and Instagram (osusoftball).