Reese Atwood, Texas Walk Off Oklahoma State for Second Straight Day
For the second day in a row, catcher Reese Atwood and the Texas Longhorns have walked off the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Atwood ripped a three-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Red and Charline McCombs Field.
And with that, the Cowgirls have now lost four games in a row in the final inning. That includes three in extras and now a seven-inning decision in which they carried a two-run lead into the last frame this time around.
Oklahoma State ace Kelly Maxwell carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh and seemed to be poised to put an end to this one easily and send the two to a rubber match. But Texas had other ideas. Center fielder Mia Scott led off with a single, then second baseman Leighann Goode singled with one out. That set the stage for Atwood’s consecutive days of heroics after she recorded a walk-off single less than 24 hours earlier.
The Cowgirls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when right fielder Katelynn Carwill singled home left fielder Tallen Edwards. Given Maxwell’s dominance, they went up by a seemingly insurmountable 2-0 count in the sixth on an RBI double by catcher Taylor Tuck.
However, that was clearly not the case. Maxwell suffered the loss despite being so strong throughout, eventually permitting three earned runs on three hits and a walk. She struck out nine Texas hitters. Sophia Simpson earned the win in relief while throwing a scoreless seventh. Starter Citlaly Gutierrez lasted six innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits and three walks, fanning three.
The two complete the series this afternoon with game two of the doubleheader.
