Despite moving the game back a day earlier, a weather delay suspended Cowgirl softball’s game against Wichita State on Tuesday — Game to resume April 8th in Wichita
STILLWATER, Okla. — In a midweek matchup fraught with early offensive fireworks and a late game delay, the No. 15/21 Oklahoma State Cowgirls hosted the Wichita State Shockers on Tuesday night, March 10, 2026, at Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater.
However, Mother Nature had other plans, as the game was suspended in the bottom of the seventh inning due to lightning in the area, with Wichita State leading 8-3. The contest, which entered a 28-minute weather delay before being halted, will resume on April 8 in Wichita, Kansas, prior to the teams’ originally scheduled game that day.
The suspension came with two Cowgirls on base and one out, leaving OSU in a precarious position. Barring a massive scoring outburst in the remainder of the seventh, potentially requiring at least five runs to tie or win, the Cowgirls are poised to take the loss, dropping their record from 17-7.
Surprisingly, officials opted not to call the game in favor of Wichita State, despite the Shockers’ commanding lead and the fact that six full innings had been completed, which typically allows for an official result in weather-shortened games. This decision preserves a sliver of hope for OSU, though the odds are steep given their offensive struggles throughout the evening.
Wichita State dominated early, exploding for four runs in the top of the first inning. Gabby Scott set the tone with a two-run home run, her third of the season, scoring the game’s first runs. Jodie Epperson followed with a two-run double to center field, quickly building a 4-0 advantage.
The Shockers added two more in the third, highlighted by Chloe Rhine’s solo home run (her fifth), pushing the lead to 6-0. In the fifth, Brookelyn Livanec delivered a crucial two-run single through the right side with the bases loaded, extending the margin to 8-0 and putting OSU on the brink of a run-rule defeat.
Oklahoma State, held to just two hits total, mounted a late rally to extend the game. In the bottom of the fifth, pinch-runner Kaya Booker scored from first on Jayden Jones’ RBI double, avoiding the run rule and making it 8-1.
The Cowgirls chipped away further in the sixth when Karli Godwin crushed a two-run home run to left-center—her second of the year—narrowing the gap to 8-3.
Despite these efforts, OSU’s offense was stifled, managing only those two hits while committing no errors. On the mound, starter RyLee Crandall lasted three innings, while reliever Preslee Downing took over in the fourth.
For Wichita State, the performance was a team effort, amassing 13 hits and one error. Riley Nihart was stellar in the circle, recording four strikeouts and two walks en route to what could be a complete-game win if the resumption holds.
The Shockers’ early aggression and timely hitting overwhelmed OSU, showing their ability to capitalize on opportunities against a ranked opponent.
This game, originally moved up from Wednesday due to forecasted inclement weather, ironically fell victim to the elements anyway. It marks a rare midseason suspension in college softball, adding interest to the April 8 resumption in Wichita, where the teams will complete this contest before playing a full game.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State has little time to dwell, as they travel to Tempe, Arizona, this weekend for a crucial Big 12 series against Arizona State.
The three-game set begins Friday, March 13, at 7 p.m. CT, followed by games on Saturday and Sunday.
With OSU sitting at 17-7 overall entering the week, this road trip against the Sun Devils could be pivotal for their conference standing and postseason positioning. The Cowgirls will need to shake off this near-loss and rediscover their bats to compete in the desert.