OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — James Madison has done it again.
A day after stunning top-seeded Oklahoma, the Dukes beat No. 5 Oklahoma State 2-1 on Friday night in the Women’s College World Series.
After claiming the two wins against Big 12 teams within an hour of their campuses, the unseeded Dukes — champions of the Colonial Athletic Association — are one victory from reaching the best-of-three championship series.
Odicci Alexander pitched complete-game victories in both contests. She threw 129 pitches against Oklahoma, then 95 more against the Cowgirls.
Oklahoma State (48-11) will play Arizona or Florida State in an elimination game on Saturday night.
In the first inning, Alexander walked. Two batters later, Madison Maujokas reached on an infield single, and a throwing error by Oklahoma State pitcher Carrie Eberle allowed Alexander to score.
The Cowgirls had two on and one out in the second, but didn’t score.
James Madison’s Kate Gordon hit a homer for the second consecutive day. Her solo shot in the third inning gave the Dukes a 2-0 lead.
Eberle was hit in the lower left leg by a line drive in the third inning, but she stayed in the game.
Oklahoma State finally got on the board in the fifth, when Chelsea Alexander singled and Reagan Wright beat a throw home.
Oklahoma State went to the bullpen in the fifth when Eberle got in trouble, and Kelly Maxwell got out of the jam without allowing a run. Maxwell pitched two perfect innings and struck out five.
Oklahoma State had one last shot in the seventh. Karli Petty was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then pinch runner Scotland David stole second.
David was caught in a rundown between second and third after an Oklahoma State bunt. James Madison was called for obstruction, so Petty ended up on third.
Odicci Alexander charged a bunt, picked it up and tagged David out coming home for the second out. There were runners on second and third with two outs before she escaped.
___
Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CliffBruntAP.
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
