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.