Oklahoma State softball loses another one run game to Arizona State — Series stands at 2-0 as the Cowgirls may be stranded in the desert with no oasis in sight
TEMPE, AZ — The No. 21/15 Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball team endured a second consecutive gut wrenching defeat at the hands of the No. 25/RV Arizona State Sun Devils, dropping game two of their Big 12 series 5-4 on Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium.
This marks the second straight game where OSU lost late by a single run, following Friday’s 3-2 extra-innings setback that ended on a walk-off home run in the eighth.
With the loss, the Cowgirls fall to 17-9 overall and 1-4 in Big 12 play, while ASU improves to 22-6 and 2-3 in conference action.
The matchup unfolded as a classic back-and-forth battle under unusually hot temps for mid-March, with temperatures climbing to a not so cool 91 degrees during the day, far above typical early-spring norms in the desert. The heat might’ve added an extra layer of intensity to the contest, though Oklahoma is no stranger to the heat.
Arizona State struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, as Samantha Swan’s double to center field plated one run for a quick 1-0 lead.
OSU responded immediately in the top of the second when center fielder Jayelle Austin launched her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot that knotted the score at 1-1.
The Sun Devils regained the advantage in the third, capitalizing on a Cowgirl error to push across two unearned runs and go up 3-1.
The Cowgirls refused to fade, mounting a comeback in the fourth. Catcher Amanda Hasler crushed her fifth homer of the year to trim the deficit to 3-2, and shortstop Aubrey Jones followed with an RBI double that scored Karli Godwin, tying the game at 3-3.
OSU seized its first lead in the fifth on an RBI single from outfielder Lexi McDonald, making it 4-3.
However, ASU answered swiftly, with Katie Chester belting her ninth home run in the bottom half to even things at 4-4. The final blow came in the sixth when pinch-hitter Ryan Brown delivered a solo homer to give the Sun Devils a 5-4 edge they would not relinquish.
Offensively, OSU outhit ASU 8-6 but left runners stranded in key spots. Austin and Hasler paced the Cowgirls with their power displays, while Jones and McDonald provided clutch RBIs. Godwin added a double, and Jayden Jones contributed a sacrifice hit.
On the mound, starter Preslee Downing lasted two innings before handing off to reliever RyLee Crandall (6-2), who took the loss after allowing two earned runs over four innings.
For ASU, Meika Lauppe (8-2) went the distance, earning her second consecutive complete-game victory over OSU while striking out several in critical moments.
Chester led the Sun Devils with two RBIs, and Yazzy Avila scored twice, including a stolen base to spark rallies. Both teams committed only one error.
This series has been a tale of narrow margins for Oklahoma State, who entered the weekend after a suspended game against Wichita State earlier in the week.
Friday’s opener saw the Cowgirls battle into extras, where they scored two in the fifth to tie it at 2-2 before ASU’s Kaylee Pond ended it with a leadoff walk-off homer in the eighth.
Ruby Meylan took the hard-luck loss for OSU in that pitcher’s duel, fanning eight over seven-plus innings, while ASU’s Kenzie Brown dazzled with 14 strikeouts in seven frames.
Looking ahead, the Cowgirls aim to salvage at least one win in the three-game set during Sunday’s finale, set for 3 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Probable starters have not been officially confirmed, but Oklahoma State is expected to turn to a fresh arm to preserve their rotation after Meylan and Crandall’s recent workloads.
Arizona State may counter with Kenzie Brown, who dominated in game one, or another reliever to close out the series strong.
The desert heat could again play a factor, with Sunday’s forecast calling for highs around 89-91 degrees, continuing the unseasonably warm trend for mid-March softball.
This Big 12 clash shows the parity between teams and just how competitive this league is, as both Oklahoma State and Arizona State vie for positioning early in league play.
For OSU, a victory on Sunday could provide a bit of momentum and some consolation after dropping the first two games by a single run.