Arizona

Oklahoma State softball shuts out Arizona in Game 1 of NCAA Tournament super regional

Published

1 month ago

May 24, 2024

Oklahoma State softball shuts out Arizona in Game 1 of NCAA Tournament super regional

STILLWATER — An offensive explosion and another dominant outing for Oklahoma State pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl led to a short night for Cowgirl softball.

Fifth-seeded OSU scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth, then closed out the 8-0 run-rule victory over unseeded Arizona in Game 1 of the best-of-three Stillwater Super Regional on Friday night at Cowgirl Stadium.

Powered by home runs off the bats of Karli Godwin, Claire Timm and Micaela Wark, OSU got out to an early lead, then put the game away.

OSU can clinch its fifth straight trip to the Women’s College World Series with a win in Game 2, set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

Here are three takeaways from the Cowgirl victory:

More: How Oklahoma State softball’s Jilyen Poullard overcame her ‘mental warfare’ to ignite team

Tallen Edwards looking like herself

OSU sophomore Tallen Edwards had four hits over her final 36 at-bats of the regular season, but she has quietly turned it around in the postseason.

Though she wasn’t so quiet on Friday.

After Jilyen Poullard led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk, Edwards laced a double down the right field line, moving Poullard to third.

That set up OSU’s first run of the game when Caroline Wang hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

From her spot at third base, Edwards ended one of Arizona’s few scoring opportunities In the top of the second when she zipped to her left to glove a hard grounder. She smoothly spun and threw perfectly off one foot for the final out of the frame.

More: How Oklahoma State softball’s Micaela Wark saw season turn since father’s home run catch

The Timm Reaper ignites big inning

OSU felt like it could use some insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, so when Timm launched her ninth home run of the season to right-center field, the cushion felt a bit more comfortable.

Then Wark followed immediately with a homer to left.

From there, OSU added three more runs with RBIs from Megan Bloodworth, Godwin and Rosie Davis to extend the lead to 8-0.

More: NCAA Tournament super regional bracket: Full TV schedule, scores, results for Road to WCWS

Kilfoyl on cruise control

OSU ace Lexi Kilfoyl turned in her fourth straight impressive postseason performance, allowing three hits while striking out three.

She was dominant in pitching 19 of 21 possible innings during the Stillwater Regional last weekend, and nothing seemed to change Friday.

Kilfoyl walked one batter, her first free pass of the postseason.

OSU coach Kenny Gajewski will have a decision facing him Saturday. He can go back to his ace once again, or try to give the Wildcats a different look with someone from his bullpen, either Ivy Rosenberry or Kyra Aycock.

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Arizona

3-star offensive lineman Michael Langi commits to Arizona, first pledge of 2026 class

Published

28 mins ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

3-star offensive lineman Michael Langi commits to Arizona, first pledge of 2026 class

Arizona has been on a tear this month, picking up 13 commitments in June for its 2025 recruiting class after entering with only two. And now it already has one for the following class.

3-star offensive lineman Michael Langi committed to the UA on Tuesday night, giving the Wildcats their first pledge of the 2026 class nearly 18 months before those recruits could officially sign.

he 6-foot-3, 265-pound Langi, who goes by ‘Bobo’ rather than Michael, is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 509 player in the 2026 class. He’s also considered the No. 41 interior offensive lineman in the country and the No. 79 prospect from California.

Langi, who was offered by Arizona in January, picked the Wildcats over offers from ASU, Colorado and Penn State, among others. He is the younger brother of 3-star offensive lineman Peter Langi, a 2025 recruit whom the UA had in for an official visit last weekend.

Both Langis play for Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco, the same school where Arizona recently got a commitment from 3-star offensive lineman Losipini Tupou. They are no relation to Sam Langi, who appeared in 21 games (with four starts) on the offensive line for the Wildcats from 2020-23.

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Arizona

Former Baylor pitcher Collin McKinney commits to Arizona baseball

Published

8 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Former Baylor pitcher Collin McKinney commits to Arizona baseball

In winning both the Pac-12 regular season and conference tournament titles, Arizona put up some of the best pitching numbers in the country and led the nation in a trio of categories.

The Kevin Vance effect was real, and it’s made the Wildcats a desirable destination for pitchers hoping to improve their pro prospects.

Arizona has landed a second potential weekend starter from the NCAA transfer portal, getting a commitment Tuesday from former Baylor right-hander Collin McKinney.

The 6-foot-5 Texas native comes to Tucson with three years of eligibility, but with a big 2025 season could get drafted. He’s coming off a 2024 campaign as a redshirt freshman (he sat out 2023 due to injury) in which he started 14 games for Baylor and was 3-6 with a 6.70 ERA.

McKinney struck out 60 batters in 49.2 innings but also walked 35 and allowed 11 home runs. He had back-to-back 10-strikeout performances midway through the season but didn’t go more than four innings in any of his final seven starts.

He is Arizona’s second portal pickup, both righties who have started throughout their college career. Last week the Wildcats landed ex-Rutgers RHP Christian Coppola.

Coppola is ranked by 64Analytics as the No. 30 transfer, while McKinney is No. 168. For perspective, none of the players Arizona has lost to the portal was ranked in the top 1,000.

The UA is likely to lose all three weekend starters with righties Clark Candiotti and Cam Walty graduating and lefty Jackson Kent expected to get drafted and start his pro career.

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