Oklahoma State Sweeps Baylor Thanks to Pitching

The Cowgirls got a strong Saturday from its pitching staff to knock off the 16th-ranked Bears.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:22 pm

By: News On 6

Oklahoma State Sweeps Baylor Thanks to Pitching

Originally Published: Apr 23, 2011 6:14 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

WACO, Texas -- No. 18 Oklahoma State completed a two-game sweep of No. 16 Baylor on Friday 5-1, thanks to a strong performance from its pitching staff.

Senior Sarah Odom got the start for the Cowgirls (36-11, 7-4), pitching 5.1 shutout innings, while giving up just four hits. OSU ace Kat Espinosa (19-5) came in as relief and was credited with a win, giving up just one hit and one earned run in her 3.1 innings of service.

Whitney Canion (19-6) started the game off hot for Baylor (35-10, 7-5), pitching eight innings of two-hit, shutout softball, but struggled in the ninth, giving up five earned runs and three hits in the closing frame to earn a loss.

In the second at-bat of the ninth, Tamara Brown drew a walk and Ashley Boyd doubled to left center in the next at-bat to take a 1-0 advantage. Three at-bats later with the bases loaded, Mariah Gearhart singled through the right side to bring Kelsea Schultz home and take a two-run lead. Alysia Morrison drew a full-count walk in the next at-bat to bring Sammy-Jo Diffendaffer across the plate and push the lead to 3-0.

Alysia Hamilton came to bat next and knocked a sacrifice-fly to right field to bring Amy Graham home from third to put Baylor in a four-run deficit. In the next at-bat, Ari Morrison stole second, allowing Gearhart to score and take a 5-0 advantage.

Oklahoma State will take two days off before playing its final Bedlam matchup of the season at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Stillwater, Okla.