Clearwater, Fla. – Two home runs and red-hot offense launched the No. 5 Oklahoma State softball team to a 15-6 run rule victory over No. 25 Michigan in six innings on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Cowgirls improved to 8-1 and the Wolverines fell to 5-3. OSU went 5-0 in the tournament and outscored its opponents, 55-17. The Cowgirls hit 12 home runs in the five games.
OSU newcomer Ivy Rosenberry pitched 3.2 innings and was credited with the win.
Freshman Tallen Edwards' first career home run put OSU up, 1-0, after the first inning as she smashed a ball over the center field wall.
OSU kept its foot on the gas in the second inning with another home run, this one a three-run shot. Following a double from Katelynn Carwile, freshman Katie Lott reached on a fielder's choice. Up stepped sophomore Audrey Schneidmiller as she hit her first career bomb to extend the Cowgirls advantage, 4-0, after two innings.
The Pokes extended their lead the following inning, with an RBI double from Naomi and RBI single from Lott. For the weekend, Naomi went 6-for-10, with four home runs and 12 RBI.
Following a four-spot from Michigan that cut the OSU lead down to 7-4, the Cowgirls' offense returned to strengthen their lead. A single from Rachel Becker started the fourth inning, followed by Edwards getting hit by a pitch. Naomi came in clutch once again with an RBI single that scored Becker. With the bases loaded, Carwile drew a walk and extended the OSU lead up to 9-4.
The Cowgirls tacked on their 10th run of the game with a RBI double from Edwards, her second RBI of the game. Michigan got two runs back in the sixth inning from a two-run shot by Janelle Ilacqua, but senior Lexi Kilfoyl came in to shut the door, getting the next three outs in the top of the sixth inning.
A wild pitch and a RBI double from Chyenne Factor added two runs to the OSU tally. Freshman Micaela Wark, as a pinch hitter, ended the game early with a three-run homer that put the Pokes up, 15-6. The nine-run victory was the fourth run rule victory in five games played at the Clearwater Invitational.
OSU returns to action next weekend in Las Cruces, N.M. for the Troy Cox Classic, with the Cowgirls slated to play four games starting Friday, Feb. 24.
