Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Florida State
Cowgirls Shut Out 16th-Ranked Florida State
May 15, 2009 | Cowgirl Softball
May 15, 2009
Cowgirl pitcher Anna Whiddon threw a one-hit shutout as Oklahoma State upset No. 16 national seed Florida State 1-0 here Friday night before 472 fans at JoAnn Graf Field. The OSU hurler struck out nine Seminole batters, including two to end the seventh inning after the Cowgirls had taken the lead.
"It was a great game," said OSU head coach Rich Wieligman. "It was a well-played game on both sides. I think both pitchers pitched really well. We had some more chances at third and we squeezed a run across. Really that's it. It was great pitching and good defense being played. We just happened to come on top."
Oklahoma State (35-20) had runners on third with less than two outs in the second, fifth and sixth innings. Junior Sam Heinlein led off the second with a double, as did freshman Julie Ward in the fifth. With one out in the sixth, Katelyn Bright hit a drive to right centerfield. FSU centerfielder Carly Wynn misplayed the ball, and Bright took advantage, racing to third. Seminole hurler Sarah Hamilton worked out of all three jams.
The Cowgirls were finally able to score in the top of the seventh, thanks to playing a little small ball. Megan Castle led off the inning with a bunt single. Castle was safe at second on a sacrifice bunt by Ward. Both moved up a base when Taylor Marcum laid down her second successful sacrifice hit of the game. Castle then scored on a squeeze bunt by freshman Chelsea Garcia, the fourth-consecutive bunt by OSU.
Florida State was held in check all evening, hitting just two balls out of the infield and never advancing a runner past first base. Michelle Snyder hit a ball into shallow left center that Bright was able to track down, and Shayla Jackson hit a ball through the right side of the infield for FSU's only hit off Cowgirl starter Anna Whiddon. The OSU righthander improved to 20-13 on the season.
Oklahoma State will play 14th-ranked California (36-18) in the winners' bracket game at 1 p.m. ET.
