Cowgirls Complete Seven-Run Comeback to Clinch Series

Saturday, April 27

Stillwater, OK

4 p.m. CT

Oklahoma State University

36-11, 12-2

Texas Tech

35-11, 8-9

Texas Tech

Oklahoma State

April 27, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

STILLWATER – The No. 12 Oklahoma State softball team dug itself out of a 7-0 hole and scored eight unanswered runs against No. 13 Texas Tech to clinch its fifth-straight Big 12 series victory on Saturday at Cowgirl Stadium.

The seven-run comeback was the largest come-from-behind effort by an OSU (36-11; 12-2 Big 12) team during coach Kenny Gajewski's tenure. The team's previous best during Gajewski's reign was a six-run effort against Texas on March 26, 2017, also at Cowgirl Stadium.

"Obviously, that was a really good Big 12 Conference softball game," Gajewski said. "What a job by Logan Simunek to come in and slam the door, throwing four scoreless innings with four hits and no walks. I think that's the story here. I'm just really proud of this team. I told them after the game there is something special here and it's brewing. I can see it and I've been part of it. These kids don't ever think they're out of anything."

It was a rough start to Saturday's contest for the Pokes, as Texas Tech scored all seven of its runs in the game's first three frames, capped by a pair of home runs in the top of the third. After that, it was lights out for the OSU defense though, as the Cowgirls allowed only two hits over the final four innings.

Logan Simunek was the anchor that kept the comeback opportunity alive, as she slammed the door shut on the Red Raiders. Simunek struck out four TTU batters and allowed only four hits in 4 1/3 innings of work.

Oklahoma State's offensive spark came in the bottom of the third inning, when Rylee Bayless launched a solo home run over the wall in right-center field. Michaela Richbourg followed the Cowgirl senior three batters later with a two-run home run of her own to right field, cutting the deficit to four.

Bayless and Richbourg's home runs were the 63rd and 64th hit by a Cowgirl batter this season, setting a new program record for single-season home runs. It was also Richbourg's 12th home run of the season, bringing her within two of Samantha Show's team lead.

Richbourg's 12 home runs, coupled with Show's 14, marks the only time in OSU history that a Cowgirl squad has had two batters hit at least 12 home runs during the same season.

The Pokes built off their newfound momentum going forward and continued to chip away at Texas Tech's lead, before ultimately using a four-run fifth inning to knot the game at 7-7.

Show opened the frame with a leadoff single to left field - the first of five Cowgirl hits in the inning. Chyenne Factor drove home a pair of Pokes three batters later with a single to center field, and pinch-hitter Sydney Springfield delivered the game-tying blow with a two-run triple to the wall in left center.

Springfield's ball was a towering shot that got to the warning track. Texas Tech had two defenders in the area, but the outfielders collided and dropped the ball, allowing for the inning to continue and two Cowgirls to dart home.

Springfield's triple sent a packed Cowgirl Stadium crowd into a raucous frenzy, with 'Orange Power' chants ringing all throughout the surrounding area in the moments that followed.

That energy in the stadium helped lift OSU to complete its comeback in the bottom of the sixth, which is when Chyenne Factor again came up clutch. The freshman stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and lined a single back up the middle, through the pitcher's legs, and scored Rylee Bayless from third to put the Pokes on top for the first, and last, time Saturday evening.

Factor's 3-for-4 day saw her drive in three vital runs for OSU, and pushed her season total to 32 RBI. She is one of six Cowgirls to have driven in at least 30 runs so far in 2019.

In the top of the seventh, Simunek and the defense were as calm as could be, handling a scoreless frame to seal the seven-run series-clinching comeback. The game ended on a pop out to Madi Sue Montgomery at second, who quickly fired over to first base to double up Texas Tech All-American Jessica Hartwell for the third out.

Oklahoma State's victory Saturday evening guarantees that the Cowgirls will finish no worse than second in the Big 12 this season, just one year removed from their first top-two finish in the conference since 2003. It is the first time OSU will post back-to-back top-two finishes in conference play since 1996, when the Pokes capped a nine-year stretch of finishing second or better in the league.

The Cowgirls have no time to rest on their laurels though, as OSU will continue its pursuit of the program's first conference title since 1995 in the series finale tomorrow afternoon. First pitch against No. 13 Texas Tech is set for 1 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

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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 purchase your tickets for the 2019 campaign, visit okstate.com/tickets or call the OSU ticket office at 877-ALL-4-OSU.