Cowgirls Topple Red Raiders in Series Opener

Thursday, March 29

Lubbock, TX

6 P.M. CT

Oklahoma State University

24-9, 0

Texas Tech

20-14, 0

Oklahoma State

Texas Tech

Photo by: OSU Athletics

March 29, 2018 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

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STILLWATER – The No. 23 Oklahoma State softball team won its series opener against Texas Tech, 4-1, on Thursday at Rocky Johnson Field.

The win pushes OSU out to 24-9 on the year and 3-1 in Big 12 play.

"Well it's always good to win on a Friday night. Obviously, it's Thursday, but it's like a Friday night in a series and it's so important to win these first games," head coach Kenny Gajewski said. "I thought our kids really gutted this thing out. I thought Sam (Clakley) was really good. Our at-bats were pretty poor to start out. Sydney (Pennington) had the one big home run that got us on the board. It took us four or five innings to get going, and credit their kid for that. We got the big home run from Chelsea Alexander in the sixth and that was when we finally strung together some good at-bats."

The Cowgirls' offensive output came from a pair of home runs, both of which were hit by freshmen.

Sydney Pennington provided the first, a second-inning blast to straightaway center, that put the Cowgirls up early, 1-0. The solo shot was Pennington's seventh of the season and she is one of four Cowgirls to have hit at least six home runs so far in 2018.

Chelsea Alexander was the supplier of the second home run, as she roped a ball off the wall in right center and bolted around the basepaths to log a three-run inside-the-park home run. It was the second home run of the year for Alexander, who finished 2-for-2 with the home run, a walk and three runs batted in on Thursday.

"I try to go up and think about BP, and that's all I really think about," Alexander said. "My first at-bat was kind of bad, but I got lucky enough to hit it soft and get on. But on that last one, I was really trying to stay smooth. The coaches are really harping on me about that right now. Just not doing too much and staying easy, which is what I've been working on in BP, so I went up there and just tried to hit."

In the circle, Samantha Clakley handled a potent Red Raider offense. She allowed just one run and walked only one while striking out four in a complete-game performance. Clakley improved to 9-4 with the win on Thursday.

"She's a kid that gives up a lot of weak hits, but when she doesn't walk anyone then those hits don't really bother anyone," Gajewski said. "She gives up a lot of those little bloopers and ground-ball hits, but she just competes and I'm proud of the way she battled all day long."

Oklahoma State will return to action against the Red Raiders tomorrow at 4 p.m. For more information on the Cowgirls, follow the team on Twitter (@CowgirlSB), Facebook (Cowgirl Softball) and Instagram (osusoftball).