Kansas edged by Oklahoma State in Thursday doubleheader
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas softball opened its home portion of the Big 12 Conference schedule with a narrow extra-inning loss to Oklahoma State, 2-1 in nine innings, before falling to one of the top offense’s in the country in game two of the doubleheader, 7-0, on Thursday at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park.
During game one, junior pitcher Andie Formby (11-5) pitched a gem against the Cowgirls, who entered the week ranking third in the country in home runs per game (1.39) and eighth in runs per game (6.78). Through Formby’s complete-game effort of nine innings, she struck out five batters and held OSU hitless in five innings.
Oklahoma State (27-11, 6-2 Big 12) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one after the Cowgirls led off the frame with three-straight hits, including an RBI single by Madi Sue Montgomery. But Formby would force an out on the next three at-bats to end the first inning and begin a string of holding OSU hitless for the next 18 batters she faced heading into the top of the sixth inning.
Meanwhile, the Jayhawks (25-14, 0-5 Big 12) tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fourth inning as freshman shortstop Shelby Gayre slammed a solo home run past the left field fence. It was Gayre’s co-team-leading seventh home run of the season.
Kansas had opportunities to drive in base runners as both senior left fielder Erin McGinley and freshman first baseman Tarin Travieso recorded two doubles during game one. But KU left a total of nine runners on base, falling to 7-2 in one-run games this season.
OSU’s Logan Simunek (10-4) earned the game-one victory in the circle after throwing 2.1 innings of relief for the Cowgirls, which started in the bottom of the seventh inning. Simunek forced a hot-hitting McGinley to fly-out to centerfield to end the seventh inning and any hopes of a KU walk-off victory.
With runners at the corners in the top of the ninth inning, OSU’s Maddi Holcomb reached on a fielding error and drove in Chelsea Alexander to score the go-ahead unearned run to give OSU a 2-1 lead.
Travieso responded by leading off the bottom of the ninth with her second double of the day, but the Jayhawks were unable to advance her any farther on the base paths before the final out.
During game two, Oklahoma State poured in 12 hits with seven runs to clinch the doubleheader sweep and the series victory. The Cowgirls’ second baseman Montgomery went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs during game part two of the doubleheader.
Senior pitcher Sarah Miller (8-6) started in the circle for the Jayhawks in game two pitching 4.2 innings as the pitcher of record. OSU’s Emmie Robertson (9-4) threw a complete game shutout while holding KU to three hits.
UP NEXT
Kansas and Oklahoma State are scheduled to conclude a three-game series on Friday at 3 p.m.
FOLLOW
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
