Oklahoma State softball shuts out Arizona in Recreation 1 of tremendous regional – Oklahoman.com

STILLWATER — Karli Godwin’s dwelling run had not but landed past the left area wall when Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski started jogging up the baseline.
No, not the house run the Cowgirl first baseman hit Friday evening to spark an offensive explosion in fifth-seeded OSU’s 8-0 run-rule win over unseeded Arizona within the Recreation 1 of the best-of-three Stillwater Super Regional at Cowgirl Stadium.
Friday’s homer was the primary of three for the Cowgirls in a two-inning span — from Godwin, Claire Timm and Micaela Wark — because the Cowgirls scored early and infrequently, supporting one other dominant outing from senior pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl. 
However the homer that led to Gajewski’s unplanned calisthenics got here throughout Thursday’s batting observe, when he noticed a plethora of onerous hits from a lot of his gamers — however none from Godwin.
So Gajewski challenged his power-hitting freshman with a wager. Hit a homer and he’d run a lap across the outfield.
Gajewski finally needed to make two journeys across the outfield on Thursday, and possibly would’ve executed one other Friday if not for the continued sport.
“I obtained below her pores and skin a bit, and she or he obtained me again,” Gajewski mentioned. “We now have enjoyable. I wish to poke and prod them. I wish to problem them. And that’s what I believe helps them at instances.”
Godwin agreed the mid-practice needling from her coach, and the house run problem that adopted, sparked her.
“Typically I must get mad and work via issues,” Godwin mentioned. “I believe that’s what it did in a enjoyable means. I believe it helped me.”
Gajewski mentioned Godwin’s pregame batting observe Friday was a lot smoother than a day earlier, and her stats confirmed it.
Taking part in in her first profession NCAA Tremendous Regional, Godwin completed 2 for two with three RBIs, together with an RBI single within the first inning that Gajewski thought of “essentially the most spectacular one, if you wish to know the reality in my thoughts,” he mentioned. “Getting the bottom hit up the center was enormous.”
Godwin is 5 for 12 with two dwelling runs and 5 RBIs in her first NCAA postseason and now has 15 homers for the yr.
OSU can clinch its fifth straight journey to the Girls’s Faculty World Sequence with a win in Recreation 2, set for six p.m. Saturday.
Listed here are three takeaways from the Cowgirl victory:  
Extra:How Oklahoma State softball’s Jilyen Poullard overcame her ‘mental warfare’ to ignite team
OSU sophomore Tallen Edwards had 4 hits over her remaining 36 at-bats of the common season, however she has quietly come to life within the postseason.
After all, she wasn’t so quiet on Friday.
After Jilyen Poullard led off the underside of the primary inning with a stroll, Edwards laced a double down the precise area line, transferring Poullard to 3rd.
That arrange OSU’s first run of the sport when Caroline Wang hit a sacrifice fly to left area.
Then Edwards got here round to attain, sliding headfirst into dwelling plate simply forward of the tag, on a single by Godwin. She completed the sport 1 for two with a stroll and two runs scored, and is now 7 for 13 within the postseason, having hit safely in each sport.
From her spot at third base, Edwards ended one in every of Arizona’s few scoring alternatives Within the prime of the second when she zipped to her left to glove a tough grounder. She easily spun and threw completely off one foot for the ultimate out of the body.
“The larger the second, Tallen can stand up and be whoever she needs to be,” Gajewski mentioned. “She will get caught up at instances her common, issues that don’t matter. 
“I knew Tallen could be right here as we speak. I may see it. It’s big-game Tallen. She simply steps up and she or he loves the second.”
Extra:How Oklahoma State softball’s Micaela Wark saw season turn since father’s home run catch
OSU’s two first-inning runs gave a little bit of consolation, and Godwin’s homer within the third added much more. However that was simply the beginning of the onslaught. 
Timm launched her ninth dwelling run of the season to right-center area, and Wark adopted instantly with a homer to left.
From there, OSU added three extra runs with RBIs from Megan Bloodworth, Godwin and Rosie Davis to increase the result in 8-0 within the backside of the fourth, handing the sport to Kilfoyl to complete off.
Whereas the Cowgirls’ large quantity got here within the fourth inning, the hitters all the time sensed it was coming.
“From Jil’s stroll, after which she scored, I believe we had been going from there and it by no means stopped,” Wark mentioned, referencing Poullard’s leadoff stroll within the first. “I believe that’s why we shut the sport down. It began from the start.”
Arizona coach Caitlin Lowe opted to start out her No. 2 pitcher, Miranda Stoddard, however turned to her prime arm, Aissa Silva, within the third. Ali Blanchard, who had pitched simply 24 innings all season, additionally noticed some motion.
However OSU had a response for every of them.
“The offense, they had been relentless,” Gajewski mentioned. “It was the Cowgirl means, and it was actually cool. Loads of walks, numerous baserunners, numerous strain.”
Extra:NCAA Tournament super regional bracket: Full TV schedule, scores, results for Road to WCWS
Kilfoyl turned in her fourth straight spectacular postseason efficiency, permitting three hits whereas hanging out three.
She was dominant in pitching 19 of 21 doable innings through the Stillwater Regional final weekend, and nothing appeared to alter Friday. 
Kilfoyl walked one batter, her first free go of the postseason, however solely as soon as did a Wildcat baserunner attain third. 
OSU coach Kenny Gajewski could have a choice dealing with him Saturday. He can return to his ace as soon as once more, or attempt to give the Wildcats a unique look with somebody from his bullpen, both Ivy Rosenberry or Kyra Aycock.
Kilfoyl threw simply 67 pitches, after having 5 days off, so she stays an possibility if Gajewski needs to make use of her once more.
“Lexi’s a horse,” he mentioned. “She’s the instance of what an ace is.
“We haven’t even talked about (Saturday) but. Ivy must throw, to be very sincere. We will’t go one other week the place she doesn’t get sufficient work. We will’t experience one arm right here. I’m gonna discuss to (pitching coach Carrie Eberle) and the workers, however I actually don’t know the place we’re going but.”

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