Day to remember Monday, April 25, 2022
OSU sweeps Texas on senior night Sam Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor
Alexander Hernandez Morgan Day pitched the finale against Texas where the Cowgirls completed the three-game sweep of the Longhorns.
When coach Kenny Gajewski got filled in on the conversation, he agreed. Oklahoma State assistant coaches Jeff Cottrill and John Bargfeldt discussed a plan before the Cowgirls played a doubleheader against Texas on Sunday. If OSU won the first game, they would throw senior Morgan Day in the second one. They told Gajewski the plan, and the hypothetical situation soon turned to reality. OSU took the first game, setting up a matchup between Day, an Illinois State transfer, and Texas ace Haley Dolcini. No. 6 OSU beat No. 16 Texas 2-1 Sunday evening in Cowgirl Stadium. With the win, which was Day’s ninth, the Cowgirls completed the sweep of the Longhorns. “It was awesome,” Day said. “With this being my first year in the Big 12. My only year in the Big 12, being on the roster I kind of feel the competitiveness and rivalry between the schools. It’s awesome. It’s a feeling I wanted and why I came here.” OSU (38-7) has now won nine of its last 10 games against Texas. Day, who has emerged as OSU’s No. 3 starter, pitched five innings and allowed one run. She overcame a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and three hits from Texas batters that were catchable. “I am so proud of Morgan Day,” junior catcher Julia Cottrill said. “When I was warming her up in the bullpen she was like, ‘I’m so nervous’. I was like, ‘Just go out there and give us your best stuff.’ That’s what she did. Even when we weren’t necessarily giving her all of the defense behind her.” Gajewski said he wants to pitch Day in OSU’s upcoming series against No. 5 Florida State, instead of relying solely on Kelly Maxwell and Miranda Elish. He said getting Day innings against Texas was critical. “It’s very important and it turned out to be a great thing that she got that,” Gajewski said. “If we don’t act like a junior high team and catch some balls that game is a different game. (The Longhorns) don’t get eight hits, they probably get two or three.” Texas outhit OSU 8-2, but the Cowgirls had the home run advantage. Cottrill hit a solo home run to right in the second inning. “It feels good,” Cottrill said. “I feel like there for a stretch I was struggling. My teammates were picking me up. It was kind of my turn to pick them up right back.” Texas battled back in the third inning with a sacrifice fly that scored a run to tie the game. The winning run came in the bottom of the third when Chelsea Alexander, one of OSU’s fastest players, darted home on a double steal and barely beat UT catcher Mary Iakopo’s tag. No runs were scored after that, a testament to Day and, later, Maxwell, who threw two innings in relief for OSU. “The more pitches I get in a game setting, I feel like I get a little more confident,” Day said. It was senior day, and the last regular-season game at Cowgirl Stadium. The Cowgirls, though, are in good position to host regional and super regional games. Day, who received a framed jersey and a warm ovation after the game, participated in senior day last year at Illinois State. She said the reception in Cowgirl Stadium felt just as good. “It’s kind of unusual that somebody gets two senior days, but I felt as honored at this one as I did at a university I spent four years,” Day said. “I feel very special. I feel grateful.” sports.ed@ocolly.com