Shockers top Cowgirls 8-2

Wichita State overcame an early deficit to defeat Oklahoma State 8-2 in Friday’s NCAA regional game in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

For The Oklahoman

— Oklahoma State's softball team was 24-6 this season when scoring in the first inning, so things looked promising for the Cowgirls when they jumped out to a two-run lead to open Friday's NCAA regional game against Wichita State.

But OSU couldn't build on its early momentum, and the Shockers came back to beat the Cowgirls 8-2 at Bogle Park.

"We're pretty good when we score first," OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. "I felt really good about where we were in the first inning. But we just kind of fell apart from there."

The Cowgirls (38-21) will play DePaul in an elimination game at 4 p.m. Saturday. DePaul lost to host Arkansas 2-0 on Friday.

"We've just got to fight," said OSU senior outfielder Vanessa Shippy. "There's no other option now."

The Cowgirls couldn't score against Wichita State (31-21), and junior left-hander Bailey Lange — who pitched a complete game — after taking a 2-0 lead. OSU got five runners on base over the final six innings with only one advancing as far as third base.

"I felt like we swung at some pitches that weren't strikes, and we took some balls that were right there," Gajewski said. "I thought there were a lot of balls up that we let go.

"This time of year against this type of team, you just can't let these guys get away with pitches that are hitable.

"I felt like early on we had competitive, aggressive at bats, and then we just kind of lost that some."

Wichita State scored four runs in the third inning — with four hits, a walk, a hit batter and an OSU error — against starting pitcher Samantha Clakley and reliever Logan Sinunek to take a 4-2 lead.

"When we scored those four runs, we completely deflated them, and Bailey Lange took that opportunity right there," Shockers coach Kristi Bredbenner said.

"She really started getting into a groove and got the confidence that she needed to finish that game."

Wichita State scored four more runs in the fourth inning — with three hits, a walk and the help of two OSU errors — to make it 7-2.

Lange added an RBI double in the sixth inning to push the Shockers lead to 8-2. In the circle, she held the Cowgirls to four hits and one earned run.

"We've shown at times we can play some ugly games, and this was one of them," Gajewski said. "Credit them. They put some pressure on us, and we didn't make plays."OSU came into this season with a 79-8 record against Wichita State, but the Shockers are 3-0 against the Cowgirls this season.

"I don't know," Gajewski said when asked about the series turnaround. "I wish I had an answer. I'd solve it."

Gajewski said he feels good about how the Cowgirls will respond Saturday. "This is a competitive group with a lot of pride," he said. "We'll bounce back."