Oklahoma State University Athletics
Softball Advances to Championship Game with Win Over Bears
June 21, 1999 | Cowgirl Softball
May 16, 1998
STILLWATER, Okla. - Leanne Tyler pitched a three-hit shutout and Oklahoma State took advantage of three Southwest Missouri State errors as the Cowgirls defeated the Bears 4-0 Saturday to advance to Sunday's championship game of the NCAA Softball Regional played here this weekend.
Tyler struck out 10 and walked none in leading the Cowgirls to their second straight victory. Michelle Singer had two hits, including the key hit on a freak play that scored three runs for OSU in the sixth inning.
With Casey Acree on second and Shannon Sullivan on first, Singer singled to center. Acree scored on the play, and Sullivan, who had advanced to third on the single, was able to score when SMS center fielder Jessica Acton's wild throw got away from first baseman Wendy Farthing. Singer had advanced to second on the throw home and to third on Acton's throwing error, and she scored when catcher Tawnya Grout threw wide of home trying to retire Sullivan.
"We're pretty excited," said OSU associate head coach Margaret Rebenar of the Cowgirls' fourth regional finals appearance in five years. "I give their pitcher (Nora Cagwin) a lot of credit; she's very talented. I felt she might keep us somewhat off balance, and I think that turned out to be true. But we had some key hits, and they gave us a little bit in terms of key errors."
Cagwin, who has pitched 77 of the Bears' past 84 innings, allowed just six hits over seven innings, but two unearned runs hurt Southwest Missouri State's cause. Still, right fielder Heather Anderson put some of the blame for the loss on the Bears' hitting.
"I just don't think we were being aggressive," said Anderson. "I don't know what it was. There was no momentum. I can't really explain it - that's not the way we hit. We rarely have any strikeouts. But we looked at a lot of third strikes."
The Bears play again Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the Florida State-Stanford game. The Saturday night winner will advance to meet the Cowgirls on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Oklahoma State 4, Southwest Missouri State 0 Oklahoma State 100 003 0 -- 4 6 1 Southwest Mo. State 000 000 0 -- 0 3 3Tyler and Silva; Cagwin and Grout. W - Tyler (12-6). L - Cagwin (24-7).
