Cowgirls Battle for Opening Win in Big 12 Series at Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Micaela Wark’s seventh-inning, two-run home run propelled the No. 2/2 Oklahoma State Softball team to a 7-5 win over Big 12 Conference foe Kansas, Thursday evening at Arrocha Ballpark. Win the win, OSU improved to 33-3 and 4-0 in Big 12 play, while Kansas fell to 19-15 and 1-3 against conference opposition.
Lexi Kilfoyl improved to 10-1 in her complete game performance.
After a scoreless first inning, redshirt freshman Wark – a Kansas transfer – opened the second with a leadoff single.
A walk and a sacrifice bunt from Chyenne Factor moved the runners to second and third with one out. Katelynn Carwile’s 11th double of the season scored one, while Megan Bloodworth brought home OSU’s second of the day with an RBI double of her own.
Rachel Becker cleared the bases with a two-RBI single that extended the Pokes advantage, 4-0; the graduate infielder has now tallied nine RBI in her last five games.
Kilfoyl kept KU scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Jayhawks plated two runs.
The Pokes added their fifth of the game in the sixth, as Carwile’s 25th RBI of the season – a sacrifice flyout to deep center – brought home pinch runner Haidyn Sokoloski to add to the OSU lead, 5-2.
Kansas tied the game in the bottom of the sixth following an RBI double and a bases-clearing two-RBI triple from Haleigh Harper.
With one out and a runner on first, Wark launched her seventh homer of the season over the left field wall. The two-run blast put OSU on top 7-5, a lead they would not relinquish.
Kilfoyl shut the door on the Jayhawks, tossing two strikeouts in the final inning to secure the victory.
Round two against the Jayhawks is set for 5 p.m. CT tomorrow; fans can stream the game on ESPN+ or listen via The Varsity Network.