Oklahoma State softball dropped a 3-2 extra-innings decision to Arizona State on Friday, sealed by a walk-off home run in the eighth.
TEMPE, AZ — In a tense pitcher’s duel that extended into extra innings, the No. 21 Oklahoma State Cowgirls suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to the No. 25 Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday night at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
The loss dropped OSU to 17-8 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 Conference play, while ASU improved to 21-6 and 1-3 in the league. The game, which featured stellar pitching on both sides and dramatic home runs, highlighted the competitive nature of this early-season conference matchup.
The contest remained scoreless through the first four innings, with both teams struggling to generate offense against dominant starting pitchers. Oklahoma State’s Ruby Meylan and Arizona State’s Kenzie Brown combined for 22 strikeouts over the first seven innings, keeping hitters off balance with a mix of velocity and off-speed pitches.
Meylan, who threw a complete game for the Cowgirls, finished with 7.0 innings pitched, allowing 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts in the loss (now 7-6 on the season). Brown was equally impressive for the Sun Devils, going 7.0 innings with just 2 hits allowed, 2 earned runs, 6 walks, and a whopping 14 strikeouts before being relieved in the eighth.
The scoring finally erupted in the fifth inning. For Oklahoma State, Macy Graf entered as a pinch runner and scored on a two-run home run by third baseman Rosie Davis, giving the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead. Davis’s blast, her fourth of the season, came on a 2-0 pitch and sailed deep to center field, providing what seemed like a crucial breakthrough.
However, Arizona State responded immediately in the bottom half. Third baseman Yazzy Avila reached base via a hit-by-pitch, and shortstop Brooklyn Ulrich crushed a two-run homer to center—her second of the year—to tie the game at 2-2. Ulrich finished the night 2-for-3 with a run scored and those two RBIs, emerging as a key offensive spark for the Sun Devils.
Neither team could muster much in the sixth or seventh innings, as the pitchers continued to dominate. Oklahoma State managed only three hits total, two from right fielder Claire Timm, who went 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk, and Davis’s homer.
The Cowgirls drew seven walks but struck out 14 times, underscoring Brown’s effectiveness in the circle. Arizona State recorded five hits, with center fielder Kaylee Pond going 2-for-4, including a caught stealing in the first inning.
The game headed to extra innings tied at 2-2. In the top of the eighth, Timm led off with a single, and catcher Audrey Schneidmiller walked, putting runners on first and second with one out. However, Schneidmiller was picked off at first, and the Cowgirls failed to score.
In the bottom half, Pond delivered the decisive blow, a leadoff walk-off home run to deep center on the first pitch from Meylan, her eighth of the season, securing the 3-2 victory for ASU.
Meika Lauppe earned the win for Arizona State (7-2), pitching a scoreless eighth with 1 hit allowed and 1 walk.
Standout players for Oklahoma State included Davis (1-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBIs, HR, BB) and Timm, who provided the team’s only multi-hit performance.
For Arizona State, Pond (2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR) and Ulrich shone brightly, while Brown’s 14 strikeouts tied her career high and set the tone for the Sun Devils’ defensive effort. Both teams played error-free ball, with no miscues contributing to the outcome.
This matchup is part of a crucial three-game weekend series in the Big 12, where both squads entered with identical 1-3 conference records after early-season stumbles.
Oklahoma State, ranked No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll and No. 21 in the NFCA/GoRout rankings, has been led by a veteran core but has struggled with consistency at the plate, batting just .243 as a team entering the series.
Arizona State, receiving votes in multiple polls and ranked No. 25 in others, boasts a potent offense averaging over 6 runs per game, powered by players like Pond, who leads the team with a .378 average and now 8 home runs.
The loss marks Oklahoma State’s second straight defeat in extra innings this season. Coach Kenny Gajewski emphasized post-game the need for better execution in clutch situations, noting the team’s 14 strikeouts as an area for improvement.
On the flip side, ASU’s win provides a much-needed boost after dropping their first three conference games, potentially sparking a turnaround in Tempe.
Looking ahead, the series continues today, Saturday, March 14, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT at Farrington Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on KGFY 105.5 FM or the Varsity Network app.
Probable pitchers have not been officially announced, but Oklahoma State is likely to turn to a fresh arm like Lexi Kilfoyl or Ivy Rosenberry after Meylan’s complete-game effort, while Arizona State could start Ryan Brown or another reliever to preserve their rotation.
Sunday’s finale is set for 3:00 p.m. CT, offering the Cowgirls a chance to salvage the series and regain momentum before returning home.
This series underscores the parity in the expanded Big 12, which now includes former Pac-12 powerhouses like Arizona State. With the conference tournament looming in May and both teams eyeing NCAA Regional berths, every game carries postseason implications.
Oklahoma State, a perennial Women’s College World Series contender with 16 appearances, will need to bounce back quickly to maintain their top-25 status and build toward another deep run.
Arizona State, transitioning to the Big 12 after years in the Pac-12, showed Friday why they’re a threat with their blend of pitching depth and timely hitting.