Cowgirls Close Out USF Tournament With a Win

Originally Published: Mar 21, 2010 11:20 AM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TAMPA, Florida -- Oklahoma State won its final game of the USF-The Game Tournament 7-3 over No. 21 Illinois.

The Cowgirls did most of their scoring in the second inning, putting five of their seven runs on the board. Julie Ward started the inning with a double, and scored on a fielding error that allowed Chelsea Garcia to reach first. In the next at bat, Kelsey Anchors singled to right field and advanced to second on the throw, allowing Garcia to advance to third and Amy Graham to score.

Two at bats later, Katelyn Bright reached base on a scoring error, allowing Anchors, Garcia and Mariah Gerhart to score, expanding the lead to 5-0.

Kat Espinosa shut down Illinois early, retiring nine straight batters and striking out four in the first three innings. She gave up one hit and two earned runs in the fourth inning, and was replaced by Anna Whiddon who finished the final three innings.

The Illini got on the board in the top of the fourth. Hope Howell was hit by a pitch in the first at bat of the inning and then Hollie Pinchback homered to center field to close the gap to 5-2.

OSU added two more in the bottom of the fifth on RBI doubles by Julie Ward and Megan Castle, and held on to close out Illinois.

The Cowgirls are back in action Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas against Wichita State.