OSU Softball’s Struggles Continue, Eliminated From Big 12 Tourney in 8-7 Loss to Kansas

(Pokes Report publisher Robert Allen added to this story that originated with Oklahoma State athletic media relations.)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Following a suspension of play in the fourth inning due to inclement weather Thursday night, the No. 8/8 Oklahoma State Softball team resumed play and fell to the Kansas Jayhawks, 8-7, Friday morning at Hall of Fame Stadium.

With the result, OSU moved to 41-14, while Kansas fell to 25-26.

Head coach Kenny Gajewski started redshirt senior Kelly Maxwell in the circle, and the lefty quickly retired the side in order to open the game, collecting the first of her four strikeouts on the night.

For the 40th time this season, the Cowgirls were the first on the scoreboard.

Chyenne Factor led off the second inning with a single, and advanced to second in the next at-bat following a base on balls from Morgyn Wynne.

After a groundout advanced the runners, catcher Taylor Tuck delivered the games first run with a sacrifice fly to give OSU the lead, 1-0.

Kansas responded with a three-run inning in the top of the third to take the lead, 3-1.

In the top of the fourth inning, with two outs, runners on first and second and freshman Kyra Aycock making her way to the circle in relief for Maxwell, Big 12 officials made the decision to postpone the contest with inclement weather in the Oklahoma City area.

Play resumed this morning at 10 a.m. CT, as Aycock pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with her first strikeout of the morning to give the Cowgirls some momentum.

A two-out, seven-pitch walk drawn by Megan Bloodworth kept the fourth inning alive, after Morgyn Wynne led off the inning with a first-pitch base knock.

Rachel Becker scored Wynne on a single that brought home Wynne. Katelynn Carwile stepped up to the plate and launched a ball over the right-field wall – a three-run shot – to give OSU the lead, 5-3.

The Cowgirls and the Jayhawks traded a run apiece in the sixth inning, as KU capitalized on an OSU fielding error, and Carwile notched her fourth RBI of the game with an RBI groundout to extend the lead, 6-4.

Kansas scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead, 8-6. That tally included the go ahead run scored on a single to left by Kansas Shayna Espy. Espy had a strong game for the Jayhawks.

With OSU down to its final out, Oklahoma State freshman Tallen Edwards singled through the left side. Immediately after, Tuck notched her first career triple to score Edwards and cut the deficit to one run.

The comeback bid ended shortly after and the Cowgirls' run at the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship came to an end at the hands of the Jayhawks, who won 8-7.

The Pokes await their fate for the 2023 NCAA DI Softball Championship as they find out their tournament bracket seeding on the selection show at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.