OSU Softball: Cowgirls Thump Cyclones 11-1 in Series Finale

The Cowgirls started slow but finished strong, a bit of a microcosm of the weekend.

No. 6 Oklahoma State used a seven-run sixth inning to walk away from the Cyclones 11-1, enacting the mercy rule.

Sydney Pennington logged her 245th consecutive start and now owns the record from most career starts by a Cowgirl. Her ground-out RBI sent Julia Cottrill across home plate and put the Cowgirls on the board in the top of the second. Iowa State would score its single run in the bottom of the second. Then OSU’s offense exploded for nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Cowgirls dominated in those innings but the scoring run got started with some help from the home team.

In the fifth, Miranda Elish reached on a Cyclone throwing error which saw Brianna Evans score. Then Kiley Naomi scored an unearned run later in the inning.

In the sixth, Katelynn Carwile was credited with two RBIs when she reached on a fielder’s choice and then advanced to second on a throwing error. Naomi and Evans both crossed the plate again. Carwile would score on a wild pitch in the same inning. Seven of the Cowgirls’ 11 runs were unearned.

“Thought our girls took it to ’em all day long,” said OSU head coach Kenny Gajewski. “Obviously, just put the ball in play hard. Made them make plays. They had a hard time with that and that’s the type of team that we ought to be.”

A day after logging her first loss of the season, Kelly Maxwell was locked in. She moved to 13-1 in the circle, striking out 13, allowing four hits but just one run and walking one batter. It makes for her ninth double-digit K performance of the season and her 10th complete game.

“I thought Kelly was very good on one day’s rest, or no day’s rest, and bounced back and threw the ball very, very well,” said Gajewski.

The win — OSU’s 10th this season by run rule — pushes the Cowgirls to 31-7 on the season and 8-1 in conference play. Next up, the Cowgirls will be back home for the first time since March 30, their last run rule victory, for a three-game series against Kansas. First pitch is 6 p.m. Thursday.