OSU Softball: Cowgirls Fall 1-0 to No. 2 Texas

STILLWATER — The Cowgirls were hanging around with one of the top teams in the country, but they just couldn’t get that hit when they needed it.

Oklahoma State fell 1-0 to No. 2 Texas on Wednesday evening at Cowgirl Stadium.

The Longhorns’ winning run came in the fifth inning with two outs. Baylor transfer pitcher RyLee Crandall forced a lineout and a groundout to start the frame before Kayden Henry got on with a bunt single. That was the last batter Crandall faced, as Cowgirl ace Ruby Meylan re-entered after starting the game. Henry stole second before a single to center sent her home.

OSU was close to tying it up the next two innings.

The Cowgirls had a runner on third in the bottom of the fifth but couldn’t get her across home plate. The frame started with Megan Delgadillo jabbing a ball through the left side. Macy Graf struck out on a foul bunt, but Delgadillo stole second and advanced to third on a Megan Bloodworth foul out. Tallen Edwards then came to the dish with two outs but grounded out to third.

Then OSU had two on in the sixth with a pinch-hitting Claire Timm at the plate. Timm made solid contact, but Henry, Texas’ centerfielder, made an excellent sliding grab in shallow center to end the inning.

The game ended on one of a handful of reviews. Rachael Hathoot was on first with one out, pinch running for Lexi McDonald after she was hit by a pitch. Bloodworth hit a groundball to short. Hathoot was thrown out at second, but the throw to first was initially ruled to not be in time. After a review, the double play was awarded, and the game was over.

OSU went 4-for-22 at the dish against a pair of excellent pitchers in Citlaly Gutierrez and Teagan Kavan. Delgadillo had two of those hits.

It was a good day for the Cowgirl pitching staff, as well. Meylan threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up no runs on six hits while striking out one and walking none. Crandall was given the L after allowing the runner who scored on, but she still threw well in her 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and no walks while striking out one.

The game also provided OSU coach Kenny Gajewksi an opportunity to test some things out with the Meylan-Crandall combination.

“The plan was that (going from Meylan to Crandall and then back to Meylan) the whole way,” Gajewski said. “We’re just trying to save some bullets for Ruby. This is something we wanted to do in the first month, kind of our analytical-type thing where we want to kinda put RyLee in where she can be the very best, and that’s against right-handers. She can get lefties out, too, but we wanted to do it in a game like this.

“Wasn’t easy to do, to be honest. Like, I had a hard time to pull the trigger there, but I’m committed to what Carrie (Eberle, OSU’s pitching coach) wants to do. And it worked great, so it makes me feel good on that.”

OSU is 27-16 on the season. Although Wednesday wasn’t the result the Cowgirls were after, it was proof in a nationally televised game that they can still compete with the upper echelon of the sport.

“Obviously we wanted to come out on top, but I don’t think any of us are mad about the outcome.” Meylan said. “I think there’s just little things to work on, but we just proved that we can compete with pretty much any team in the country.”