Oklahoma State claims first-ever WCWS Run-Rule win in shutout of Utah

OKLAHOMA CITY A six-run second inning led the No. 6 national seed Oklahoma State softball team to an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings over No. 15 Utah on Friday night at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.

With the win, OSU improved to 47-15, while Utah dropped to 42-16. Tonight’s eight-run, run-rule win is the largest NCAA Women’s College World Series win in school history; it also marks the first time OSU has dominated an opponent in a WCWS game.

All American Lexi Kilfoyle improved to 16-5 in 5.0 innings against the Utes as he collected three strikeouts and recorded a career-high fourth shutout of the season.

Playing as the designated home team, the Cowgirls took the lead in the first inning for the 29th time this season.

The following bases for balls Rachel Becker and Kiley Naomi, Morgyn Wynne downloaded the bases for Katelynn Carwile with a base knock to left field.

Carwile came through with a two-RBI single for his 39th and 40th RBI of the season, good for a new single-season career high.

The Cowgirls right fielder has now tallied hits in eight of her last nine games and has 10 RBIs in that span.

After Kilfoyle’s second scoreless inning, the Pokes struck back and broke the game open with six runs in the second.

Taylor Tuck hit a leadoff double to start things off for OSU, his seventh double of the season, a new career high for the Stillwater native.

Once the platforms are loaded, Chyenne’s author scored OSU’s third run on an RBI single to left field. In the next at-bat, Naomi drove in another RBI base hit, extending the lead to four.

After a wild pitch that scored Becker, Wynne extended the lead to seven with a two-RBI double to left center. Carwile finished the scoring in the contest with an RBI single, OSU’s eighth and final run of the game.

With a run in the bottom of the fifth to prevent the game from ending early, Utah had second and third with one out. However, Kilfoyle and the Cowgirls’ defense did not waver and ended the top of the fifth with a hit and a groundout to secure an 8-0 run rule victory.

The Cowgirls’ eight-run total marked the program record for most runs scored in a WCWS game, surpassing the previous high of seven in a series against Missouri on 28. May 1994.

With tomorrow off, the Pokes will resume WCWS action on Sunday as they await the loser of Game 7 between Tennessee and Oklahoma. The first show is scheduled for 18:00 and the match will be televised nationally on ESPN2.