Oklahoma State University Athletics
Big 12 Softball Championship Starts Friday
May 07, 2009 | Cowgirl Softball
May 7, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Oklahoma State's Cowgirl softball team travels to Oklahoma City this weekend to compete in the 2009 Big 12 Softball Championship to be held at the Don E. Porter/ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. OSU's first-round matchup will be the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Friday evening at 5 p.m. on the main field.
The Cowgirls are 33-19 overall this season and vying for their first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2005 season. That year, Oklahoma State was 30-20 entering the Big 12 Championship and earned an at-large berth in the NCAAs.
OSU will play the Red Raiders for the third-consecutive game, having swept Texas Tech (15-41) last weekend in Stillwater. The Cowgirls won by scores of 2-1 and 8-0. Oklahoma State holds a 28-10 all-time record against Tech, including a 3-2 mark in the Big 12 Championship.
The Cowgirls are led offensively by sophomore third baseman Mariah Gearhart, who is clearly deserving of postseason honors. She is currently batting .350 with a team-high 55 hits and 44 runs scored. She also leads the Big 12 Conference in stolen bases, going 31-of-33 on the basepaths. Sophomore second baseman Alysia Hamilton is batting .340 with a team-high 46 runs batted in and 22 runs scored.
In the pitching circle, junior right hander Anna Whiddon paced the Cowgirls with an 18-12 record and a 2.25 earned run average. Sophomore lefty Sarah Odom has compiled a 13-5 record with a 2.43 ERA in 33 appearances.
Following OSU's game with Texas Tech Friday night, the Big 12 Conference will announce the postseason awards, including the All-Big 12 teams, as well as the Player, Pitcher, Defensive Player, Newcomer and Coach of the Year.
The winner of Friday's game between OSU and Tech will play No. 2 seed Missouri on Saturday at 11 a.m.
