Softball Sports

Cougars fall in first game of Super Regionals

STILLWATER, Okla. — The Cougars’ season is in do-or-die circumstances after falling to No. 22 Oklahoma State 3-0 Friday at Cowgirl Stadium. Although the Cougar batters managed to outhit the Cowgirls, they never managed to bring runners home in crucial situations.

With the loss the Cougars (43-17) must win game two tomorrow to force a series-deciding third game.

“It comes down to timely hitting; 10 hits should put more runs on the board – hopefully tomorrow that’s going to be the difference,” head coach Kyla Holas said. “What we worked on all week, is getting that one-out, two-out hit. For us we’re a little frustrated right now, but we’re confident in the fact that we know what we need to adjust. Any time you can have a plan you’re going to be in a little better mindset the next day.”

The Cougars were behind from the bottom of the first inning, and it stayed that way for the game’s entirety. Senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree gave up a run to Maria Gearhart on a two-out double in the bottom of the first. Crabtree gave up two hits and one earned run and was pulled in the bottom of the third inning, as a precautionary measure — Crabtree has been dealing with a minor wrist injury since March.

Freshman Diedre Outon pitched the rest of the game, allowing four hits and two runs.

“It was just something that we wanted to be careful about,” Crabtree said. “Diedre’s done a great job all year, so that was a good option to go to. They had gotten a run off of me, so it wasn’t a bad option to switch it up and throw something different at them.”

Leaving runners in scoring position was the key problem for the Cougars. Two separate times two runners were left stranded on base, with the tying run at bat but UH could not execute from behind the plate. But the Cougars’ confidence has not been shaken – Holas said the offense is capable of delivering an equalizer tomorrow with a more focused approach.

The series resumes at 1:35 p.m. tomorrow. If the Cougars win and force a third game it will begin at approximately 4:05 p.m. It will be televised on ESPNU and ESPN3.com.

Leave a Comment