Richbourg's home run upsets FSU

Michaela Richbourg has hit a lot of home runs in her young Oklahoma State softball career, but so far, none bigger than the two-run shot that put the Cowgirls one win away from the Women's College World Series.

Richbourg hit a two- run home run to right-center field following a double by Madi Sue Montgomery in the top of the ninth inning Thursday to give 13th-seeded Oklahoma State a 3-1 victory over No. 4 Florida State in the first game of a best-of-3 super-regional series at JoAnne Graf Field in Tallahasse.

The home run was the 14th of the season for Richbourg, a sophomore from Broken Bow.

OSU pitcher Samantha Show nearly shut down a talented Florida State offense, allowing a run on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts. She retired the final 18 batters she faced to end the game. OSU has come from behind to win 17 times this season. Florida State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning that looked like it might hold up.

Dani Morgan led off the inning with a double, followed by Anna Shelnutt with a single. After a strikeout by Show, Makinzy Herzog singled to score Morgan. Show was able to get out of the inning with a pair of groundouts.

OSU hadn't advanced a runner past first base until Chelsea Alexander led off the top of the sixth inning with a double to left-center field. Show singled to put runners on the corners with one out, and Montgomery hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Alexander and tie the game.

Oklahoma State takes its 1-0 lead into Game 2 of the series at 6 p.m. Friday, televised by ESPN.