Oklahoma State University Athletics
Saturday, February 8
Baton Rouge, LA
11:00 AM
Oklahoma State University
21
vs
0
Florida A&M
Maxwell Perfect in Debut as Cowgirls Tie Program-High With 21 Runs
February 08, 2020 | Cowgirl Softball
BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 13 Oklahoma State softball team picked up its first win of the 2020 season after wrapping up the first double-header of the season with a 21-0 run-ruled victory over Florida A&M and a 3-2 loss to No. 11 LSU.
In the first game of the double-header at the Tiger Classic, the Cowgirls scored early and often to set the tone. Alysen Febrey drew a walk to start the game and came around to score OSU's first run of the season on a throwing error by FAMU. The Cowgirls tacked on three more runs in the second as Kiley Naomi lines a two-run double to left and scored herself on another throwing mistake by the opponent. In the third, Sydney Pennington and Naomi launched OSU's first home runs of the season, both were two-run shots over left field.
Once the scoring gate was open, the Cowgirls poured on with eight runs in the fifth and final frame. Michaela Richbourg hit a grand slam, the second of her career, in the top of the fifth, highlighting an offensive explosion by the Cowgirls that produced 21 runs. The scoring output tied a program record, last achieved against Baylor on March 22, 2019. The 21-0 win also marks the largest run differential in program history.
"The offense was really good right out of the gate; just scoring runs and had some really good at-bats," Head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "The at-bats were just awesome all game. We demonstrated power and grinded out at-bats."
Redshirt freshman Kelly Maxwell made her official OSU debut and was perfect in the circle. She struck out five through five innings, setting down all 15 FAMU batters faced in order. Her perfect game is the seventh in OSU history, last done by Lauren Bay against South Florida in 2002. Maxwell, a native of Friendswood, Texas, is the only pitcher in conference history to toss a perfect game in her collegiate debut.
"It was really awesome to watch Kelly's first outing as a collegiate pitcher, throwing a perfect game," Gajewski said. "It tells us that our future is very bright with Kelly."
In the second game of the double-header, the Cowgirls faced off against No. 11 LSU for the second time in as many days. Like their previous matchup, both teams' pitching was excellent and the offense was hard to come by. OSU starter Logan Simunek, who started her Cowgirl career in Tiger Stadium back in 2017, was solid in the circle. She surrendered four hits in 5.2 innings.
"I thought Logan pitched very well, it was a very even-matched game," Gajewski said.
Having been shutout by the Tigers in the season opener, the Cowgirls were the ones to land the first punch in game two. In the third, Naomi singled to left-center and scored Chelsea Alexander to open the scoring and give OSU the lead. LSU quickly responded with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch; however, Simunek settled down and was able to escape the jam with the scores tied at one apiece.
Both teams kept each other off the board until the sixth inning when Pennington stepped up to the plate. She unloaded on a pitch for her second home run of the day to give the Cowgirls a 2-1 cushion. Unable to hold the lead once again, OSU allowed the Tigers to even the score in the bottom of the inning before LSU walked off a winner with a home run by Taylor Pleasants in the bottom of the seventh.
"These are two really deep postseason teams, I'm excited about the effort today," Gajewski said. "Obviously, we want to win every game. We just got to continue to grow."
Next up, the No. 13 Cowgirls close out the Tiger Classic against Florida A&M at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
In the first game of the double-header at the Tiger Classic, the Cowgirls scored early and often to set the tone. Alysen Febrey drew a walk to start the game and came around to score OSU's first run of the season on a throwing error by FAMU. The Cowgirls tacked on three more runs in the second as Kiley Naomi lines a two-run double to left and scored herself on another throwing mistake by the opponent. In the third, Sydney Pennington and Naomi launched OSU's first home runs of the season, both were two-run shots over left field.
Once the scoring gate was open, the Cowgirls poured on with eight runs in the fifth and final frame. Michaela Richbourg hit a grand slam, the second of her career, in the top of the fifth, highlighting an offensive explosion by the Cowgirls that produced 21 runs. The scoring output tied a program record, last achieved against Baylor on March 22, 2019. The 21-0 win also marks the largest run differential in program history.
"The offense was really good right out of the gate; just scoring runs and had some really good at-bats," Head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "The at-bats were just awesome all game. We demonstrated power and grinded out at-bats."
Redshirt freshman Kelly Maxwell made her official OSU debut and was perfect in the circle. She struck out five through five innings, setting down all 15 FAMU batters faced in order. Her perfect game is the seventh in OSU history, last done by Lauren Bay against South Florida in 2002. Maxwell, a native of Friendswood, Texas, is the only pitcher in conference history to toss a perfect game in her collegiate debut.
"It was really awesome to watch Kelly's first outing as a collegiate pitcher, throwing a perfect game," Gajewski said. "It tells us that our future is very bright with Kelly."
In the second game of the double-header, the Cowgirls faced off against No. 11 LSU for the second time in as many days. Like their previous matchup, both teams' pitching was excellent and the offense was hard to come by. OSU starter Logan Simunek, who started her Cowgirl career in Tiger Stadium back in 2017, was solid in the circle. She surrendered four hits in 5.2 innings.
"I thought Logan pitched very well, it was a very even-matched game," Gajewski said.
Having been shutout by the Tigers in the season opener, the Cowgirls were the ones to land the first punch in game two. In the third, Naomi singled to left-center and scored Chelsea Alexander to open the scoring and give OSU the lead. LSU quickly responded with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch; however, Simunek settled down and was able to escape the jam with the scores tied at one apiece.
Both teams kept each other off the board until the sixth inning when Pennington stepped up to the plate. She unloaded on a pitch for her second home run of the day to give the Cowgirls a 2-1 cushion. Unable to hold the lead once again, OSU allowed the Tigers to even the score in the bottom of the inning before LSU walked off a winner with a home run by Taylor Pleasants in the bottom of the seventh.
"These are two really deep postseason teams, I'm excited about the effort today," Gajewski said. "Obviously, we want to win every game. We just got to continue to grow."
Next up, the No. 13 Cowgirls close out the Tiger Classic against Florida A&M at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Cowgirl Softball
IF
/ Cowgirl Softball
P
/ Cowgirl Softball
IF
/ Cowgirl Softball
IF
/ Cowgirl Softball
IF/OF
/ Cowgirl Softball
P
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