Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Sweeps Seminole State
October 15, 2009 | Cowgirl Softball
Oct. 15, 2009
Freshman Kat Espinosa threw a three-hit shutout, striking out 10 as Oklahoma State's Cowgirl softball team defeated Seminole State 1-0 in the nightcap as OSU swept the Trojans in a doubleheader here Thursday night at the Cowgirl Softball Complex. OSU won the first game, 4-3.
Espinosa was spot on throughout the contest, allowing just three hits while walking two. Despite loading the bases in the third inning with a walk, she worked her way out of the only jam of the game, forcing Megan Whitmire to ground into a double play.
OSU scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the first. Sammy Jo Diffendaffer had a base hit to centerfield, and with two outs, back-to-back singles by Julie Ward and Chelsea Garcia plated Diffendaffer. Garcia finished the game 2-for-2 with the lone run batted in. It was all the run support Espinosa would need in improving her record to 2-0 during the fall.
The first game was close as well. The Trojans got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second when Kalla Jones hit an RBI single down the right-field line, scoring Sam Vrska. It was the first run of the fall scored off Cowgirl ace Anna Whiddon (4-0).
Oklahoma State took the lead in the bottom of the third when Tamara Brown led off the inning with a double and scored on a base hit by Mariah Gearhart. With two outs in the same frame, Kelsey Anchors beat out an infield single, stole second base and scored on a base hit by Alysia Hamilton, giving OSU a 2-1 lead.
The Cowgirls added an insurance run in the fourth when Diffendaffer scored on a double by Megan Castle. Seminole State cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth when Katelyn Garrett scored on a throwing error by Gearhart. Oklahoma State increased its lead back to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Garcia, scoring Anchors from second base.
Sarah Odom came on in relief of Whiddon in the top of the sixth, but gave up a run in the inning on just one base hit and an error by Garcia. The Cowgirl shortstop threw the ball away when trying to get the force out at second after making a diving stop up the middle, allowing Josie Soukup to score from second. Odom struck out Jones to end the threat.
In the top of the seventh, Whiddon returned to the circle after a walk issued to Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick loaded the bases with no outs. The Cowgirl senior struck out Katie Campbell looking, then Whitmire hit a line drive to Gearhart at third, who tagged third for the game-ending double play.
Oklahoma State finishes the fall season at 8-0 and will return to action in February for the regular season.
