Cowgirls Edged by No. 8 LSU in Elite Invitational Opener

Thursday, February 14

Clearwater, FL

9 a.m. CT

Oklahoma State University

4-2

LSU

7-0

LSU

Oklahoma State

Photo by: James Hilton

February 14, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Florida – The No. 20 Oklahoma State softball team fell to No. 8 LSU, 3-1, in the first matchup of the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational on Thursday at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.

OSU (4-2; 0-0 Big 12) took the first lead of the game with a one-out RBI single provided by Samantha Show in the third, but was unable to mount a comeback after LSU's (7-0; 0-0 SEC) three-run fifth inning flipped the scoreline.

"I thought it was a very well-played softball between two top-ranked teams, and obviously we've got a lot of respect for LSU," coach Kenny Gajewski said. "The bottom line in this game is that they just got the big hit when they had to. We had chances, left some people on base, but they capitalized on their runners in the fifth. To be the best, you've got to beat the best. We're close, but unfortunately close doesn't count in the win category.

"We're looking forward to tomorrow with two games against two quality teams and it's just another opportunity for us to show what we can do."

The Cowgirls' lead over their top-10 foe came after freshman Kiley Naomi and Rylee Bayless were hit by pitches to open the third inning. Show followed the pair of Cowgirl speedsters and delivered the game's first run with sharp liner that she hit back up the middle.

The base knock was the first hit that LSU starter Shelby Wickersham had surrendered in 7.1 innings pitched so far in 2019.

Show also started Thursday's game in the circle, notching four strikeouts before being relieved by Logan Simunek in the fifth inning. Simunek polished off the game, pitching 2.2 shutout innings and striking out four Tigers in her relief outing.

Offensively, Oklahoma State's best chance to flip the scoreline back in the Cowgirls' favor came in the bottom of the sixth inning when OSU put runners at the corners with one out, but the Cowgirls were unable to capitalize and were held scoreless over the last four innings.

Oklahoma State will get its first chance to bounce back from the loss tomorrow when the Cowgirls face Notre Dame and Utah in back-to-back contests beginning at 2 p.m. CT.

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Oklahoma State is proud to celebrate more than 40 years of rich softball tradition and its 20th season of play at Cowgirl Stadium this year. To renew or purchase your season tickets for the 2019 campaign, visit okstate.com/tickets or call the OSU ticket office at 877-ALL-4-OSU.