The No. 10-ranked Missouri team defeated Oklahoma State on Friday night 5-3 in Stillwater despite only churning out five hits.
COLUMBIA — The No. 10 Missouri softball team's hot bats were cooled slightly Friday night at Oklahoma State.
But even holding the Tigers' lineup to five hits wasn't enough for the Cowgirls in a 5-3 loss that helped Missouri move into first place in the Big 12 Conference standings.
Texas' early evening loss to Nebraska, 2-1, gave Missouri (35-5) the lead in the competitive conference. The Oklahoma State (28-13) loss was its first at home this season, dropping the Cowgirls to 4-5 in Big 12 play.
Senior pitcher Stacy Delaney picked up the win for Missouri while freshman Kristen Nottelmann earned her second save, her second of the season. The duo struck out eight batters. Delaney now stands at 10-2 on the year and has a 4-1 in Big 12 games.
Missouri led 4-1 in the bottom of the second inning after Marla Schweisberger and Lindsey Ubrun each connected on two-run shots to put the Tigers ahead.
Oklahoma State put up one run in the first, but Delaney closed it with a bases-load strikeout. It was one of seven for Delaney on the night.
The Cowgirls managed two runs on four hits and one Missouri error in the bottom of the second pulling within one run of Missouri.
Missouri, leading 4-3 in the top of the fifth, tacked on a run thanks to a bases-loaded walk. OSU pitcher Anna Whiddon loaded the bags and was pulled for Sarah Odom, who promptly walked Ubrun and allowed pinch runner Meredith Nash to cross home plate.
The two teams will meet again at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in agame that will be broadcast on Fox Sports Network.