Cowgirls...

In extra innings, Texas Tech responded to the run-rule loss with a hard-fought victory.

It knocked off OSU 4-3 in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Cowgirls led 3-0, as their first run was plated in the top of the third inning on Rachel Becker’s sacrifice fly that allowed Claire Timm to score. An inning later, Timm hit an RBI single to center field that was followed by pitcher Lexy Kilfoyl’s RBI single.

The Red Raiders quickly countered with a threerun inning to tie it up.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Demi Elder reached home on an OSU throwing error before Alanna Barraza crushed an RBI double to left field. Arriana Villa, Texas Tech’s eventual hero, then capped it off with an RBI single.

Four innings later, with runners on first and second, Villa drove a ball by Timm’s glove at third that scored Barraza from second, giving the Red Raiders their first win over the Cowgirls since 2018.

“Played defense, hit the ball extremely well,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said in a postgame video on the OSU Cowgirl Softball Twitter account. “Then we came out in that second game like we’re a totally different team. Left runners on base, missed opportunities, really poor at-bats, really poor defense. And that’s what gets you beat in this conference; gets you beat anywhere.”

Continued from 1 sports.ed@ocolly.

Los Angeles Rams select OSU safety Jason Taylor II in seventh round of NFL Draft

Taylor II spent five seasons in Stillwater, racking up 138 solo tackles and eight interceptions, including six in 2022-23. He makes the transition from OSU to the NFL after earning a First Team All-Big 12 selection and serving as one of the Cowboys’ team captains last season.

He impressed at the NFL Combine in March, as he posted a 43-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-9 broad jump and a 4.50-second 40-yard dash.

Taylor II is the second Cowboy selected in this year’s draft, joining defensive lineman Tyler Lacy, who was selected in the fourth round with the 130th pick. sports.ed@ocolly.com