Oklahoma State softball vs Michigan recap: Cowgirls cruise into NCAA super regionals
Coach Kenny Gajewski and the fifth-seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls will try to advance to the NCAA softball tournament super regionals Sunday, needing just one win against Michigan in the Stillwater Regional final.
Here's what you need to know about the Cowgirls and Wolverines:
More: Oklahoma State softball erases ugly start, tops Kentucky to reach Stillwater Regional final
Oklahoma State softball live score updates vs. Michigan
Final: Cowgirls win 4-1, advance to 5th straight super regional
OSU has at least two more games at Cowgirl Stadium, defeating Michigan 4-1 on Sunday to win the Stillwater Regional and advance to a fifth straight super regional.
Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl gave up a seventh-inning double that ended her run of retired batters at 17 straight, but she finished off the complete game with her eighth strikeout of the day.
At the time the OSU game ended, Arizona was leading Villanova 7-0 in the third inning of the Fayetteville Regional final. Should Arizona hold on for the win, it will be OSU’s opponent in the best-of-three Stillwater Super Regional next weekend.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
More: Oklahoma State softball ace Lexi Kilfoyl is 'story of the weekend' in NCAA regional sweep
Top 7: Can’t do anything with runner
OSU’s Tallen Edwards led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, but the Cowgirls couldn’t do anything. Pinch-runner Scotland David was thrown out trying to steal second base.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 6: Cowgirls 3 outs away
Kilfoyl retired three more, now up to 16 straight. The Cowgirls lead 4-1 and are three outs away from advancing to the Super Regional.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 5: Kilfoyl has retired 13 straight
For the third straight day, OSU pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl has put together a string of four perfect innings.
She allowed three straight singles with two outs in the first inning, and has since retired 13 in a row. She retired all 15 she faced in her five innings of work Friday, then sat down 19 in a row Saturday.
OSU leads 4-1 heading to the sixth.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Top 5: Karli Godwin homers
OSU freshman Karli Godwin set the OSU record for home runs by a freshman during the regular season, and she added her first postseason bomb Sunday. WIth a lined shot that cleared the fan corral in left-center field, she gave OSU a 4-1 lead.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 4: Kilfoyl still working efficiently
OSU pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl worked through another clean inning with a pair of strikeouts and a foul popout to set the Wolverines down in order.
OSU enters the fifth inning with a 2-1 lead.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Top 4: Cowgirls load bases, can’t score
A hit batter, a fielding error and a walk loaded the bases with two outs, but OSU couldn’t add to its 2-1 lead.
Lexi Kilfoyl returns to the circle for her fourth inning of work.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 3: Another empty inning for Michigan
With a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to center field, OSU worked through Michigan to keep its 2-1 lead intact. Lexi Kilfoyl now has three strikeouts and hasn’t allowed a hit since the first inning.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Top 3: OSU can’t move Edwards around
OSU’s Tallen Edwards singled to lead off the inning, but never got past first base. Two popups and a strikeout ended the inning behind her, keeping the OSU edge at 2-1.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 2: Kilfoyl back on track
OSU pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl returned to the form she has shown all weekend, retiring Michigan quickly in order to preserve OSU’s 2-1 lead. Kilfoyl struck out one and induced a pair of grounders on the infield.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Top 2: Young McDonald has a homer
Getting a fly ball into the wind gusting to left field, OSU sophomore Lexi McDonald gave OSU a 2-1 lead with her fourth home run of the season and first postseason homer of her career.
The left-handed hitter lifted the ball high toward left field and the wind helped carry it beyond the wall.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Bottom 1: Michigan answers, ties score
With three soft singles, Michigan produced a run to tie the game at 1. An infield single and two bloops into the outfield generated the run, and Michigan loaded the bases with a fourth single — also on the infield — but Lexi Kilfoyl got a groundout to third to end the inning.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Top 1: Cowgirls strike quickly
Operating as the visiting team on Sunday, OSU went to the plate first, and scored right out of the gate for a 1-0 lead. Jilyen Poullard doubled to right field and scored on a sharp single to right field that the first baseman couldn’t get a glove on as it went by.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
Pregame: Lexi Kilfoyl gets the call again
OSU coach Kenny Gajewski is riding the hot hand in the regional final. The Cowgirls will start senior ace Lexi Kilfoyl at pitcher for the third straight day in the Stillwater Regional.
Kilfoyl threw five perfect innings Friday, then retired 19 straight batters at one point during her complete-game victory Saturday.
— Scott Wright, Staff writer
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OSU softball highlights vs. Michigan
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What time does OSU softball vs. Michigan start?
Date: Sunday, May 19
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Where: Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater
More: What are Oklahoma State softball's best- & worst-case scenarios for 2024 NCAA Tournament?
What channel is OSU softball vs. Michigan on today?
TV: ESPN
How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here's how to stream it live)
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State softball beats Michigan to reach NCAA super regionals
