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Lexi Kilfoyl is the extra-base hit eraser

by:Tara Henry•03/16/24
Lexi
Oklahoma State Athletics

STILLWATER, Okla. – Friday night victories in the Big 12 appear to be increasingly difficult this season. Despite facing a tough UCF Knights squad, the Cowgirls secured a 2-0 victory, propelling them to a 3-1 record in conference play. However, the atmosphere following the game was weirdly somber, a feeling not lost on head coach Kenny Gajewski.

“Winning is freaking hard,” remarked Gajewski in the aftermath. “Enjoy this and enjoy the grind and the fact that we can maybe not swing out best and still win.”

Indeed, in an age where the pursuit of perfection is everywhere amongst players, coaches, and teams alike, notching a win can often feel like an impossible challenge.

Enter Lexi Kilfoyl. With her presence on the mound, the Oklahoma State ace consistently provides her team with a chance to compete. The right-hander delivered a complete game shutout, allowing four hits. But, what truly differentiates her from most were the 11 groundouts she induced, a testament to her ability to keep the ball in the infield. Kilfoyl’s statistics speak for themselves; boasting 0.68 ERA, an impressive 0.65 WHIP, and allowing just five extra-base hits in 211 batters faced.

The significance of these numbers cannot be overstated. Even when hitters manage to reach base against Kilfoyl, the likelihood of converting that opportunity into runs remains difficult. Consider her 2023 season where she surrendered 17 extra-base hits in 511 batters faced. That amounted to 3.3% of hitters producing extra-base hits against the Oklahoma ace. It’s a pattern that proves Kilfoyl’s ability to keep the ball within the ballpark. With a variety of pitches—including a heavy down ball, deceptive off-speed, and a rise—Kilfoyl is elite, elite, elite.

As Gajewski noted, “When you don’t give up runs, you usually don’t lose.”

It’s a formula for the Cowgirls’ current success.

Despite fielding a young and relatively inexperienced defense, the future appears promising for Oklahoma State. Rookies Rosie Davis and Karli Godwin anchor the right side of the infield, while junior Megan Bloodworth has transitioned to the shortstop position. Although growing pains are inevitable with a youthful roster, Gajewski remains optimistic about the team’s potential.

“It’s still a work in progress, and there are moments where I hold my breath,” Gajewski admitted. “But the infield has the potential to be great. We’ve just got to get the experience, the games, the plays and the tough situations.”

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