Stillwater, Okla. ? Kansas University used a four-run fourth to pull away in an eventual 10-5 Big 12 softball victory over Oklahoma State on Friday at Cowgirl Stadium.
KU led, 3-2, before the big fourth.
OSU (17-20 overall, 1-4 Big 12) actually outhit No. 23-ranked Kansas, 9-8, but the Jayhawks (31-5, 2-3) were more efficient — and took advantage of eight walks.
“I am the happiest about how we continued to put pressure on them the entire game,” KU coach Megan Smith said. “We continued to have good at-bats and kept putting runs on the board, so even if they got a couple of runs or a couple of hits, we were answering back every time, which I was proud of our team for doing that.”
Chaley Brickey went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, three runs and three RBIs, and Jessie Roane went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Bryn Houlton (4-1) won after allowing five runs — three earned — off nine hits over five innings.
The series will conclude with a single game at 1 p.m. today.
Kansas 120 420 1 — 10 8 1
Oklahoma State 101 021 0 — 5 9 1
W — Bryn Houlton, 4-1. L — Jessi Haffner, 4-2.
2B — Chaley Brickey, Jessie Roane, KU; Vanessa Shippy, Randee O’Donnell, OSU. HR — Brickey 2.
Kansas highlights — Brickey 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBIs; Joarne 3-for-4, R, RBI; LIly Behrmann 0-for-0, 2 R; Sophia Templin 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K.