Cowgirl Softball Splits First Day of Clearwater Invitational
(This article was a joint effort of Oklahoma State athletics media relations and Pokes Report)
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The No. 6 Oklahoma State softball team dropped a 7-4 decision to No. 4 Georgia Friday at Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational.
With the loss, the Cowgirls fell to 5-1 overall, while Georgia improved to 7-0.
An RBI double from Caroline Wang in the first inning followed by a two-run home run for Megan Bloodworth and an RBI triple from Claire Timm in the second staked the Cowgirls to a 4-0 lead through two, but Georgia rallied to score four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to claim victory.
Lexi Kilfoyl (3-1) took the loss in relief for the Cowgirls. Georgia’s Madison Kerpics came on in relief to improve to 3-0 for Georgia, with Lilli Backes securing her second save of the season.
The Cowgirls turned around and bounced back in their second game of the day with a 9-5 win over Wisconsin. With the win, the Cowgirls improved to 6-1 on the season.
Rosie Davis went 3-for-4 with one RBI and Claire Timm (2-for-5 with an RBI), Macy Graf (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI) and Caroline Wang (2-for-4 with a double) all had multi-hit games for the Cowgirls.
Ivy Rosenberry came on in relief to hold Wisconsin scoreless in three innings of work to earn her first win of the season with Lexi Kilfoyl pitching a scoreless sixth and seventh to secure her first save of the season. Shelby Jacobson took the loss for Wisconsin, falling to 0-3 on the year.
With the Cowgirls trailing, 5-2, after three innings and in need of a spark, Megan Bloodworth laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Graf in the fourth. An RBI single from Graf in the fifth cut the deficit to one and an RBI single from the next batter, Rosie Davis, tied the game at five. The Cowgirls took the lead for good when Graf scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Strong pitching down the stretch from Rosenberry and Kilfoyl, plus three insurance runs in the seventh inning sealed the victory for OSU.
The Cowgirls are set to face No. 12 LSU on Saturday, Feb. 17. However, with inclement weather in the area, first pitch has been moved up to an 8 a.m. CT start. The game is still being televised on the SEC Network, with the radio broadcast on 105.5 FM and the Varsity App with Ryan Breeden on the call.
Their second game of the day, against No. 22/RV Northwestern, is still scheduled for a 3 p.m. CT start time.