STILLWATER — Saturday’s game was all about the pitching for Oklahoma State.
Lexi Kilfoyl got the nod for the Cowgirls and shut down the Baylor offense from the start, giving up one hit while striking out seven batters and issuing no walks.
The senior threw the complete-game shutout as OSU beat the Bears 5-0 at Cowgirl Stadium.
With the win, the No. 2-ranked Cowgirls improved to 28-2 while Baylor fell to 23-7.
“Those guys had 10 hits last night and they had one in the last 14 (at-bats),” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. “I’m really happy with the way our pitchers have been fearless.”
Gajewski said he wanted to see the response after last night’s 11-inning thriller, which ended in a Megan Bloodworth walk-off single.
“I was curious how we come out here today after a really long emotional game last night,” Gajeski said. “I challenged them last night and the response was awesome.”
Kilfoyl said she felt pretty good the whole game.
“Drop ball was working really good and my infielders were right there behind my back,” Kilfoyl said.
“It’s like a bowling ball when it comes in,” Gajewski said. “When it’s going down, it’s really hard on you.”
The Cowgirls got things started early against the Bears.
After a Rachel Becker single, Tallen Edwards hit a shot off the center field wall, setting up runners on second and third for Kiley Naomi.
The senior reached base after a fielder’s choice, which then resulted in a fielding error from Baylor’s Shaylon Govan. The error resulted in two runs, putting the Cowgirls up 2-0.
Cowgirls out to a QUICK two-run lead on a Kiley Naomi 2 RBI fielder's choice and Bears' error.
M1 | BU 0 – OSU 2#AllOne | #GoPokes | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/gs3C1EdW7r
— OSU Cowgirl Softball (@cowgirlsb) March 25, 2023
Edwards said the environment gets everyone going inside the dugout.
“It gets us all hype,” Edwards said. “Especially when we see everyone in decks and it’s basically a sold-out game, we are ready to put on a show.”
Both teams went quiet on offense the next three innings, with only one baserunner from both teams combined.
The Bears appeared to have something cooking in the top of the fifth with a two-out single from pinch-hitter Zadie LaValley, but Kilfoyl got the ground out in the next at-bat to end the inning.
Becker drew a one-out walk, then stole second, setting up a scoring opportunity for Edwards.
The true freshman delivered with a line-drive double to the right field wall, scoring one and pushing the lead to 3-0.
TWO-BAGGER NUMBER TWO FROM TALLEN EDWARDS. COWGIRLS' SCORE ANOTHER.
B5 | BU 0 – OSU 3#AllOne | @EdwardsTallen | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/cZ3uxguBJV
— OSU Cowgirl Softball (@cowgirlsb) March 25, 2023
Naomi hit a soft ground ball that resulted in a single, and Micaela Wark hit a one-out single to left field that scored Edwards for a 4-0 lead.
Pinch runner Angleina Craig got thrown out at second, but Naomi came in from third to score to put OSU up 5-0.
Kilfoyl finished the job in the seventh inning, completing the one-hit performance, recording her eighth win on the year.
The Cowgirls will look for the series sweep against Baylor tomorrow at noon. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
