Cowgirls Freshman Home Run Power Clinches Regional with Win Over Michigan
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State and Michigan were playing a fairly even contest into the top of the fifth inning with the Cowgirls leading 2-1 on the strength of a solo home run in the top of the second by sophomore right fielder Lexi McDonald. In the top of the fifth <ichigan pitcher Lauren Derkowski gave up a bloop single to the Cowgirls home run leader Caroline Wang. It was wang’s turn to be along for the ride as freshman Karli Godwin stepped up and on a 1-1 pitch drilled a line drive bullet home run over the left-center field wall and into the Cowgirls fans perched on the deck. Everybody celebrated water sprayed and the lucky ones were the ones it landed on. Oklahoma State had taken control at 4-1.
Both teams had threatened to blow it open. After the Cowgirls took the lead in the first inning with a lead-off double by Jilyen Poullard. Poullard hit it right down the first base line and it rolled into foul territory and made it an easy two bagger for the speedster. She scored when Tallen Edwards hit it right under the glove of Michigan first baseman Keke Tholl.
In the bottom of the first, Ellie Seiler led off with a single. After a ground out and a fly out, Tholl singled to right-center scoring Siler from second base to tie the score at 1-1. Ella Stephenson stepped up and singled down the line in left field. Then Jessica Conway got an infield single to load the bases. Pitching coach Carrie Eberle came out and and met with workhorse starter Lexi Kilfoyl. The team met around the circle and Kilfoyl came up with the bases loaded save the next hitter Lilly Vallimont ground out to Edwards at third base.
Before the home run by Godwin and after the home run in the second inning by McDonald. That shot in the second was a big fly home run that cleared the left field fence by about five feet. In the fourth inning the Cowgirls had a chance to take control then but couldn’t get the two out, bases loaded hit. McDonald got hit by a pitch with two outs. Shortstop Megan Bloodworth singled to left field and then Poullard walked to load em up with two outs. Edwards was working for a big swing but grounded out to second base.
That workhorse in the circle Lexi Kilfoyl pitched 19-of-the-21 innings in the regional. In the win over Michigan she allowed one run and five hits. Overall, Kilfoyl allowed three runs, two earned, 10 hits, and she struck out 21 hitters.
Oklahoma State moves on to the Super Regional next weekend at home. Arkansas lost their first two games in hosting and was eliminated. Arizona led 7-0 through three innings at last report over Villanova. Arizona was unbeaten and the likely team to come to Stillwater.