The Cowgirls hit a bit of an early season speed bump Friday, but some clutch hitting from Chyenne Factor saved them from an early losing streak.

Oklahoma State played twice Friday at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona, falling to No. 18 Duke 4-0 before beating Utah in walk-off fashion 4-3. The Cowgirls close the event Saturday with games against Cal Baptist and Missouri State.

Duke 4, OSU 0

The Cowgirls couldn’t get past Peyton St. George.

The super senior pitcher threw a complete game shutout against OSU, allowing only three hits while striking out nine and walking one. The Cowgirls had a shot to rattle St. George early after Hayley Busby drew a walk and Julia Cottrill singled with two outs in the first inning before St. George got out of the jam.

The Blue Devils did all their scoring with the long ball.

Miranda Elish made her first start as a Cowgirl, throwing five 1/3 innings where she gave up three runs on six hits while striking out six and walking two.

Duke’s first home run came in the second inning with two outs when Caroline Jacobsen took an 0-2 count over the center-field fence. The score stayed at 1-0 before the lack of run support did the Cowgirls in. Jameson Kavel hit a solo home run to left to start the inning. Kelly Torres hit a one-out single two batters later that ended Elish’s day. Morgan Day entered the circle for the Cowgirls and gave up a two-run home run before ending the inning.

OSU 4, Utah 3

The Cowgirls didn’t have too much time to heal their wounds after their first loss of the season, though.

Utah jumped on OSU early, scoring three runs in the first four innings before the Cowgirls’ bats finally got going.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Cottrill drew a walk to start the frame setting up a Taylor Tuck double. Michaela Richbourg drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.

After Sydney Pennington fouled out, Brianna Evans reached on an error that saw Jules Callaham, who was pinch running for Cottrill, score. Sophomore Avery Hobson then doubled to right to tie the game at 3.

Cowgirl ace Kelly Maxwell came on in the fifth and shut the Utes down. In three innings she allowed only one hit and struck out six.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Factor stepped to the plate as cool as can be and hit a 3-1 pitch over the wall in center field, winning the game via walk off. It’s already Factor’s second home run of the season, as she homered in the Cowgirls’ win against Arizona State on Thursday.

OSU at the Kajikawa Classic

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