Cowgirl Softball falls to Wichita State in Fayetteville regional opener

The Oklahoma State Cowgirls tried to get some redemption for their two regular season losses to the Wichita State Shockers, but it was a third and fourth inning explosion by the Shockers that sent the Cowgirls into the losing bracket.

Oklahoma State fell 8-2 to Wichita State (31-20) on Friday, May 18 in the first round of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

Oklahoma State is now 38-21 on the season.

It appeared Oklahoma State was going to take the Shockers to the woodshed early on as the Cowgirls took an early 2-0 lead when Madi Sue Montgomery reached on a fielding error, scoring Vanessa Shippy from third.

Three batters later, Chelsea Alexander laced one into right field, scoring Taylor Lynch, giving Oklahoma State a 2-0 lead after the first.

Both teams would leave runners on second and third in the second inning.

That’s when Wichita State blew it open with a two out rally.

Mckenzie Weber knocked in Mackenzie Wright with the bases loaded to put the Shockers on the board for the first time. Wichita State would collect two more hits, scored a couple more runs, which ultimately gave the Shockers the 3-2 lead with two out. Oklahoma State’s Samantha Clakley would walk in the fourth Shocker run.

Wichita State poured it on again in the fourth inning as they scored three runs, two of them off Cowgirl errors. A throwing error by Logan Simunek and Montgomery would account for two of the three Wichita State runs.

Oklahoma State would only collect two hits over the final six innings, committing two errors and squandering away their chances at a victory.

With the loss, Oklahoma State is now only 4-6 in their last 10 games.

Shippy led the Cowgirls going 2-for-3 at the plate and scoring a run. Clakley pitched 2.2 innings, giving up four earned runs. Simunek relieved her in the bottom of the second. She threw three and a third, giving up eight hits and two earned runs. Lange went the distance for Wichita State, giving up four hits over seven innings, while walking and striking out three batters.

The Cowgirls will now face the loser of No. 13 Arkansas Razorbacks (39-15) and the DePaul Blue Demons (35-15) at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19.

If they win, they’ll turn around and play at 6:30 p.m. against the loser from the winner bracket’s game.

Luckily for Oklahoma State, it’s a double elimination regional.