STILLWATER – Ruby Meylan starred in relief and the Oklahoma State softball team scored eight runs in the final three innings of a 12-4 run-rule win over South Dakota State in six innings at Cowgirl Stadium Sunday.
The game marked the finale of the OSU/Tulsa Invitational, at which the Cowgirls won four of five games to improve to 15-5 on the season. The Jackrabbits dropped to 12-9 on the year.
For the seventh time in its last 10 games, OSU won via the run-rule.
A two-run home run by Amanda Hasler and a two-run single by Tia Warsop powered a 4-1 Cowgirl advantage through the first two innings, but the Jackrabbits tied the score with three runs in the third. Meylan was inserted with one out in the third and retired the first nine batters she faced and 11 of 12 overall to shut SDSU down and improve her season record to 5-4. Of the 11 outs she recorded, seven came via strikeout.
OSU regained the lead in the fourth inning when a throwing error by shortstop Emma Vike allowed Macy Graf to score from third. The Cowgirls added three more in the fifth inning, thanks to a two-run single from Audrey Jones and a sacrifice fly from Audrey Schneidmiller. OSU put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning that included a two-run single from Montgomery Henderson and an RBI single from Audrey Schneidmiller. Henderson's single produced her first collegiate RBIs.
Five different Cowgirls had more than one RBI in the game, with Aubrey Jones and Warsop driving in three apiece and Henderson, Hasler and Schneidmiller each contributing with two apiece.
Madi Mangulis (4-3) took the loss for SDSU after being tagged with eight earned runs, six walks and two hit batters in 5.1 innings of work.
OSU was supposed to take on No. 9 Nebraska immediately following the win over the Jackrabbits, but the Cornhuskers left Stillwater early to return home in advance of approaching winter weather.
The Cowgirls are back in action when they host Missouri State at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Cowgirl Stadium.
