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The Cowgirls ran into a buzzsaw in the circle, and their season comes to an end after an early elimination in OKC.
Oklahoma State, the 5 seed, fell to 8 seed Stanford 8-0 by run rule in sixth innings. The Cowgirls’ bats could not get going against an elite pitcher for the second straight game in OKC, but they didn’t go down without a fight.
An Elite Pitching Duel
First Team All-American and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Lexi Kilfoyl came up short in her college finale against her counterpart NiJaree Canady, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Kilfoyl was a Top 3 finalist for that award.
After pitching a pretty clean game in OSU’s 1-0 loss to Florida on Thursday, Kilfoyl’s final game as a Cowgirl ends unceremoniously. She gave up 11 hits and four runs in three 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking two as the Cardinal’s bats were on fire. Stanford set a WCWS program record with eight runs. Kilfoyl fell to 26-5 on the year.
Ivy Rosenberry allowed six hits and four runs while striking out three and walking four in two 1/3 innings.
Canady earned her hardware, logging seven strikeouts in six shutout innings while allowing just three hits.
Facing elimination in the bottom of the sixth, the Cowgirls made Canady work for it. After a groundout, Caroline Wang walked on a 4-0 count. After a Karli Godwin flyout, Rosie Davis walked after going seven pitches and then both Cowgirls got into scoring position thanks to a wild pitch by Canady before she ended it with a strikeout.
With the loss, the Cowgirls end their season 49-12. They managed just five hits and were shut out in two games at the WCWS. OSU went 0-2 in the WCWS for the first time since 2011.
OSU Fans Will Remember Emily Jones
Stanford’s senior center fielder was responsible for two big outs, scored the game-winning run and had a crucial mishap overturned after a challenge.
In the top of the fifth, Emily Jones was called for leaving second base early, which would have resulted in the Cowgirls’ third out. Stanford challenged the call, and it was overturned upon video review.
After logging a strikeout in each of the first four innings, OSU batters were finally connecting with Canady’s pitches in the fifth, when her outfield kept her clean. Jones made the big play when she extended at the center-field wall to snag Micaela Wark’s fly ball. Megan Bloodworth and Jilyen Poullard each flied out in the inning, as well.
In the top of the sixth with OSU down down 6-0, a Stanford double skidded right past Claire Timm’s glove in right field, putting runners on second and third. It was the Cowgirls’ only charged error, but there were plenty of slipups on defense. Then a walk loaded the bases with no outs, setting up the run-rule opportunity.
A walk of River Mahler made it 7-0 Stanford. Tallen Edwards got one out on a fielder’s choice. Then Jones hit an RBI single that resulted in an obstruction call on Wang at home. OSU challenged the call but lost it, making it 8-0.
Another Trip to OKC
As bad as this one stings for OSU fans, this was a successful season for the Cowgirls, even if it may take some distance to see it.
Losing a lot of production from last year’s squad, including ace Kelly Maxwell who transferred to Oklahoma, this was expected to be more of a rebuild year for Kenny Gajewski’s squad. Fifteen of OSU’s 24 rostered players are underclassmen. I’d say the future is bright, but so was the present.
Another trip to OKC continues to extend OSU’s program record of five-straight WCWS berth. Again, this one stings, but it further solidifies OSU’s ascent into the upper echelon of college softball.
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