Show's Complete Game Leads Cowgirls to Opening Day Win

Friday, February 8

Houston, TX

10:30 a.m. CT

Oklahoma State University

Illinois

Madi Sue Montgomery - Home Run Celebration

February 08, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball

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PDF Box Score - Illinois
PDF Box Score - Houston

HOUSTON, Texas – Oklahoma State softball pitcher Samantha Show starred in her Cowgirl debut Friday, pitching a one-run complete game to help OSU knock off Houston, 5-1, in the day one finale of the 2019 Houston Invitational.

Show pitched all seven innings on a frigid night in southeast Texas, surrendering just one run on two hits and striking out six in her first outing of the year. She polished off Friday's gem with a swinging strikeout and a strong fist pump in the circle.

"I thought (Samantha) Show was really good," coach Kenny Gajewski said. "She just really competed out there in the circle all night long."

Show, a transfer from Texas A&M, also showed her prowess at the plate Friday, going 1-for-4 against Houston in Friday's nightcap.

Several other Cowgirls played big roles around Show in the offense Friday, highlighted by Rylee Bayless' 1-for-2, two-walk outing from the leadoff spot.

Oklahoma State's run producers behind Bayless and Show consisted of a mixture of fresh and familiar faces, as Madi Sue Montgomery and Taylor Lynch both drove in a run, while LSU transfer Sydney Springfield and freshman Kiley Naomi played their own roles perfectly.

Naomi, in particular, was electric on the basepaths, beating out a bunt single and later scoring from second when a ball bounced off her and into center field.

"We had our backs up against a wall a little bit, and I'm really happy with the way we came back out after a tough day," Gajewski said. "When you have to do that, it's tough on kids. Especially when it's 40 (degrees) out and the wind chill is in the 20's. I'm just happy with the way we fought and came back."

Earlier in the day, Oklahoma State dropped its season opener against Illinois, falling 7-4 in a scrappy contest with the Fighting Illini.

Samantha Show provided the first two runs of 2019 for OSU with a two-run home run that zipped over the fence in right-center field, giving the Cowgirls a 2-1 advantage in the third inning. Illinois bounced back quickly, however, blasting a three-run home run in the bottom of the frame and a two-run shot in the fourth to grab hold of the contest.

OSU continued to put runners on base throughout, drawing 10 walks as a team for the first time since also drawing 10 against Kansas on April 7, 2018.

Leadoff batter Rylee Bayless and second baseman Madi Sue Montgomery were the most featured on the basepaths for OSU, as each drew three walks against Illinois. Friday's games marked Bayless' first competitive action for the Cowgirls since tearing her ACL after just five games last season.

Oklahoma State will continue its weekend in Houston tomorrow with a matchup against Sam Houston State at 11:30 a.m. which will be followed immediately by the Cowgirls' second clash with the Illini.

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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.