Cowgirls On To Supers!
The Cowgirls punched their ticket to Supers Sunday, and a date and rematch with Nebraska, after taking down the Stanford Cardinal for the 2nd day in a row, this time 11–5. Amanda Hasler had an RBI double in the 3rd, then a 2-run home run in the 5th, then Claire Timm put the game away with a Grand Slam in the 5th to put the game away. Ruby Meylan was excellent again, going the distance, needing just 93 pitches
OSU now gets to face a familiar foe, Nebraska, who the Cowgirls split with earlier in the year in Stillwater on a Rosie Davis walkoff in game 1, then a 4-3 setback in the 2nd game between the two teams.
Oklahoma State Was Relentless!
Stanford grabbed the early lead when Emily Jones hammered a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Cardinal a 1–0 lead. Keep in mind, Ruby was only going to be able to pitch one of the two games, so OSU basically had to win the game she pitched, and Coach G chose Game 1. So, when it got off to that start, that was unsettling as an OSU fan, and just what the doctor ordered if you were a Stanford fan.
OSU answered right back, though, tying the game in the second inning after some uncharacteristically NOT perfect defense from Stanford. Amanda Hasler led the inning off with a base hit on a ball that was hit right at the third baseman, Jade Berry, who is a GREAT player. The ball was hit very hard, took a wicked hop, and made its way into left field. Although they scored a hit, and rightfully so, it was still a play that Stanford could have made, and was the type of play they were going to have to make every time if they wanted to win.
Madison Hoffman then struck out, Tia Warsop walked, then the Cardinal did make an error as Audrey Schneidmiller hit a shot to the shortstop River Mahier, who is very sure-handed, but couldn’t handle this one. Amanda Hasler scored, and that tied the game at 1-1.
The Cowgirls then took control for good in the third inning.
Lexi McDonald worked a 1-out walk, then made it to 2nd on a wild pitch before Hasler struck again, ripping an RBI double into the left-center gap, giving Oklahoma State a 2–1 lead, and they NEVER looked back.
Complete Offense
Oklahoma State manufactured another run in the fourth inning without recording a hit, and this offense is good enough; so if you give them freebies, you get beat 11-5, it’s that simple.
After Aubrey Jones, the Cardinal pitcher, Zoe Prystajko made a throwing error on a sac bunt from Claire Timm, then Karli Godwin hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones and push the lead to 3–1.
Stanford answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly from Jade Berry of their own to pull back within 3-2, and it looked like we were headed for a dramatic finish. Stanford was the home team, and, as incredible as she is, you had to wonder if or when Ruby Meylan might run out of gas.
But then, well then, the fifth inning HAPPENED!
The Grand Slam!
The Cowgirls erupted for six runs in the fifth inning and delivered the knockout blow with two massive swings.
Lexi McDonald, who has been incredible since being inserted into the everyday lineup, opened the inning with a double, then Hasler did it again, this time crushing a two-run homer deep over the left field wall and into the pavilion to extend the lead to 5-2. The home run was her 14th home run of the season, and served as the latest reminder that she is one of the most clutch hitters in College softball.
But that was just the appetizer!
A few hitters later, after walks by Madison Hoffman and Tia Warsop and a sacrifice bunt by Schneidmiller, Aubrey Jones beat out an infield single to load the bases.
That set the stage for Claire Timm.
Timm hit a grand slam to deep right field and blew the doors off of this one, giving the Cowgirls a 9–2 lead, and with Ruby Meylan on the mound, it was OVA!
But, just for good measure, the Cowgirls added two more runs in the sixth, then, despite 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth from Stanford, won the Regional title and celebrated in front of a bunch of very excited and appreciative fans.
Hasler had one of the best games of her season, and that’s sayin’ somethin’. She went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, 3 RBIs, and 3 runs scored. Claire Timm delivered the game’s biggest swing with her grand slam and finished with four RBIs.Lexi McDonald also played a key role offensively, reaching base four times and scoring twice. Tia Warsop walked three times and scored once as well to round out a very balanced and complete offensive performance for the Cowgirls.
Ruby Meylan is AWESOME!
Meylan threw her 22nd complete game of the year and improved to 29–7. She gave up 7 hits, 5 runs, but only 3 were earned, and walked NO ONE. Zero walks…WOW! That’s how you get through 7 innings when you’re on fumes, you make the other team earn everything they get. And, while they may get some, like the 5 Stanford got, you create efficiency, and corresponding length, which ultimately is to the ultimate benefit of the team.
For instance, this team is better off Meylan going the distance and giving up 5 than it is Meylan going 5 and giving up a couple of fewer runs.
Stanford Pitching Overwhelmed by Cowgirl Patience
Stanford cycled through four pitchers, but Oklahoma State was up to the task and controlled the matchups all day.
The Cowgirls drew 11 walks, were hit twice, hit two home runs, one of which was a grand slam, and scored 11 runs. Pretty durned good! They’ll need to be just as good next weekend in Nebraska if they want to take down the Huskers in Lincoln.
Photo for the featured image is courtesy of Laken Chambers of the O’Colly. Follow Laken at @lakens_lens
