The Daily O’Collegian

In the bottom of the second inning Sunday, senior outfielder Kim Kaye hit a lead-off home run to give the Cowgirls their first lead of the game.

This was Kaye’s 25th career home run at OSU, tying her for third all-time with Jade Lindly. She is only three away from breaking Jamie Foutch’s all-time record of 27.

Kaye’s home run came on Senior Day, and her parents were in the stands to see it. Kaye is from San Diego, so her parents are not usual spectators in Cowgirl Stadium.

Kaye said she was happy to hit the home run, but was quick to point out that her accomplishment was overshadowed by the offensive play of the whole team.

“It felt really good,” Kaye said. “We all are just hitting the ball so well. In general with our team, if you hang it, we bang it.”

The Cowgirls (24-20, 7-5 Big 12) completed the series sweep of the Nebraska Huskers, winning 3-1 on Saturday and 8-2 on Sunday.

Saturday, the Cowgirls defeated the Huskers (17-23, 1-10) with one good inning of offense and a strong performance by sophomore pitcher Anna Whiddon. Whiddon pitched a complete game, giving up five hits and one run, also striking out six.

“It wasn’t my best game,” Whiddon said. “But I did fine and was able to find a way to win.”

The Huskers struck first in the third inning, taking 1-0 lead. The Cowgirls answered right back in the third. Kaye hit an RBI double. Freshman catcher Ashley Boyd then hit a two-RBI single.

The four combined runs, all coming in the third inning, would be the only runs scored by either team Saturday.

Sunday’s victory was a much more wild game, filled with different story lines and questionable calls. There was Kaye’s 25th career home run to start the game, but that was just the beginning for the Cowgirls.

The Cowgirls scored twice in the third inning and one more in the fourth. In the top of the fourth, freshman Sarah Odom surrendered a solo home run to the Huskers’ Crystal Carwile.

Then the game turned wild. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cowgirls’ first two batters were retired. With two outs, the Cowgirls loaded the bases, and junior third baseman Jessica Meza hit a double to knock in all three runners and give the Cowgirls a 7-1 lead.

The Huskers, who were running low on pitchers, sent their designated player, Kelli Linke, to the circle to pitch. Linke walked two to load the bases again.

Sophomore outfielder Katelyn Bright reached base on an error, which scored Meza to give OSU an 8-1 lead.

“How many runs we score with two outs is amazing,” Kaye said. “We rally, we never give up, and we just keep pushing.”

In the next inning, the Huskers had loaded the bases with freshman Amanda Crabtree in the circle for the Cowgirls. With one out, Nebraska hit a blooper to shallow right field, where Kaye made a diving catch for the second out.

The Husker runner on third ran home and scored, but the runner on first did not tag so the Cowgirls threw it to first to get the double play, which should have negated the run. However, the run stood and the Cowgirls left the inning leading 8-2.

There was one more strange call in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Megan Castle was on third. The ball was hit down the third base line and she tried to get back on base. The umpire’s original call was safe, but immediately after, he called her out, leaving many in Cowgirl Stadium confused.

“I think it was confusing, but we ended up getting out of it just fine,” Kaye said.

Odom got the start for the Cowgirls, pitching four innings and giving up one run on four hits. Crabtree came in relief and gave up one run on one hit. Whiddon, who picked up the win Saturday, said the freshmen pitchers impressed her.

“Two young pitchers getting in a jam and being able to step up and get right out of it, I think they both did great,” Whiddon said.

Coach Rich Wieligman was pleased with the way his offense performed, especially Kaye, his senior leader.

“We came out with Kim Kaye hitting a home run in the second inning,” Wieligman said. “Then she came up with a hit that sort of let us relax a little bit and let everybody else let loose and start swinging the bat.

“We scored four straight innings and I think that’s huge.”

The victory put the Cowgirls in fourth place in the Big 12. Wieligman said he hope the winning continues into Tuesday’s Bedlam game.

“These wins in conference, they’re big,” Wieligman said. “They help us out a bunch.”

The Cowgirls won five of their past seven, including one win against fourth-ranked Texas A&M.

Whiddon said the players feel as if they can keep stringing together wins.

“The Cowgirls are like a victory train,” Whiddon said.