The Walk-Off: Six of the Top 10 go down on Friday
When Campbell upset newly top-ranked Duke earlier on Wednesday, which included an LSU walk-off and USF’s win over Florida, we probably should’ve known we were in for a wacky weekend. Six of Softball America’s Top 10 lost on Friday and let’s run through those results.
No. 1 Duke 13, No. 25 Clemson 9
The Blue Devils bounced back by outslugging the Valerie Cagle-less Tigers. Kelly Torres, Claire Davidson and Aminah Vega combined for seven hits and 12 RBIs.
Our Tara Henry was in Clemson and has an in-depth analysis.
BYU 9, No. 2 Oklahoma 4
The Cougars have had a strong offense all season, but an injury-riddled pitching staff has hindered them. BYU showed how dangerous it can be at the plate at Love’s Field. BYU got out to an early lead but then Tiare Jennings hit a game-tying two-run home run and it felt like it typically does that Oklahoma would storm back.
BYU punched back with a two-run fifth inning. The Cougars added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh before closing out the upset win. BYU scored in six of seven innings off of Nicole May, Kierson Deal and Karlie Keeney.
Gianna Mares and Kate Dahle powered through most of the game despite Ailana Agbayani picking up the win with 0.1 innings thrown. They held Oklahoma to 2-for-13 with runners in scoring positions as the Sooners put on the lead runner every single inning. Oklahoma now has four losses this season, the first time since 2021.
Iowa State 2, No. 3 Oklahoma State 0
Lexi Kilfoyl was rolling. But so was Lauren Schurman. The Iowa State starter was going pitch for pitch with the Oklahoma State ace for five innings. Kilfoyl had a no-hitter for four innings, while Schurman scattered five Cowgirl hits. Ashley Minor decided to be the first to support her pitcher. Her solo shot off Kilfoyl gave the Cyclones a lead it didn’t surrender.
Minor was hit by a pitch to provide an insurance run in the seventh. It wasn’t needed as Jaiden Ralston picked up the save with two perfect innings of relief for Schurman.
No. 4 Texas 14, Baylor 1 (F/6)
Unlike its Big 12 powerhouse counterparts, Texas took care of business in Waco. The Longhorns collected 16 hits in the win. Mia Scott fell a triple short of the cycle with three RBIs. Ashton Maloney also had three hits. Eight different players drove in runs to support Tegan Kavan’s 12th win of the season.
No. 11 Mississippi State 9, No. 5 Tennessee 1 (F/5)
The SEC’s hottest offense sure made scoring against Karlyn Pickens look easy. Pickens didn’t have her best stuff based on her early control but Mississippi State kept it simple. The Bulldogs put together five hits against the flamethrower, pushing her out in the third inning. And funny enough, Madisyn Kennedy went hitless. Sierra Sacco and Nadia Barbary set the tone early with back-to-back base knocks and tied the game in the first. The Bulldogs had back-to-back three-run innings in the second and third, scoring in every inning.
Aspen Wesley earned her 11th win as she only allowed two hits. However, her defense had a lot to do with that. Barbary, Sacco and Brylie St. Clair all had speculatular plays but nothing tops this stop and scope by Salen Hawkins at second base.
No. 6 Stanford 8, Oregon State 0 (F/6)
NiJaree Canady said no upset for the Cardinal. In the circle, she threw five no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts. Her two-run homer put the run-rule in effect. The Beavers did get a hit versus Alyssa Houston to prevent the no-hitter. Ava Gall and Jade Berry also homered for Stanford.
NiJaree Canady are you kidding??
She cranked that one to center to make it 8-0#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/rilM7O5fqK
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) April 13, 2024
Auburn 3, No. 7 LSU 2
It wasn’t as bad as the way the Tigers lost to Florida on Monday, but a fielding error ended up being the difference on Friday. Maddox McKee, who is filling in for the injured Danieca Coffey, couldn’t handle a short grounder from Icess Tresvik with two outs in the seventh leading to the go-ahead run. Auburn didn’t hit the ball hard in any of its scoring chances but simply did enough to force defensive mistakes or get the bounce of the ball.
Shelby Lowe and Annabelle Widra gave Auburn five quality innings before Maddie Penta tossed two scoreless innings. Penta will likely start on Saturday with a chance to take the series.
No. 18 Missouri 6, No. 8 Florida 3
Missouri had as twice as many runs as hits. The Tigers made their chances count against Keagan Rothrock, who allowed nine free passes but carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Missouri found two infield hits as part of a four-run sixth inning. Marissa McCann continues to impress out of the bullpen. She calmed things down against the Florida bats with 2.2 scoreless innings.
Kentucky 7, No. 9 Georgia 5
Taylor Ebbs had herself a day. She started the scoring with an RBI double in the first. When the Bulldogs shifted from Shelby Walters to Lilli Backes, Ebbs belted a three-run homer off the lefty to extend the lead to six.
Georgia battled back. Jaydyn Goodwin and Lyndi Rae Davis each drove in a pair in the third and sixth innings. Sydney Chambley tacked on another in the seventh but the Bulldogs put themselves too far behind the eight ball to complete the comeback.
Softball Around America
Here are other big results from around the country.
No. 17 Louisiana 7, No. 19 Texas State 0
The Ragin’ Cajans showed that the Sun Belt is theirs until it is taken away from them. After a manufactured run in the first, Alexa Langeliers bombed a three-run homer against Jessica Mullins to push the lead to four. Cecilia Vasquez and Laney Credeur hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh. Sam Landry tossed a complete game four-hitter. She worked around six walks and held the Bobcats to 1-for-14 with runners on base.
Texas Tech 6, No. 23 Kansas 5
The Red Raiders stole a victory in this one. Texas Tech entered the seventh inning down two runs. Kailey Wyckoff trimmed the lead with a solo home run. Then a sacrifice fly tied the game setting the stage for Demi Elder. She provided the walk-off single for the win.
Another view because it deserves it😊🤩 https://t.co/RQpaQXdCv8 pic.twitter.com/q0Ob0pMwyq
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB) April 13, 2024
Arizona 7, Oregon 5
After early home runs from Carlie Scupin and Olivia DiNardo, Arizona held onto the series-opening win despite blasts from Ariel Carlson and Tehya Bird.
The result was little of importance in the game. Oregon center fielder Hanna Delgado made a great catch in the fifth inning but her head crashed directly into the wall. Delgado was stretchered off the field and transported to a local hospital. Oregon has yet to release an official update.
