Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Opens 2010 Season
February 11, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 11, 2010
Stillwater, Okla. -- Oklahoma State's softball team will open the 2010 season this weekend at the CenturyLink Classic in San Marcos, Texas. The Cowgirls will face UT Arlington and Northern Illinois on Friday, host Texas State and New Mexico on Saturday, and Texas State again Sunday morning.
OSU is coming off its most successful season under fourth-year head coach Rich Wieligman. The team finished 36-22 with the most wins in six years and made its first NCAA Regional appearance since 2005. The Cowgirls went 2-2 in the Tallahassee Regional and defeated 16th-ranked Florida State twice.
Oklahoma State is returning every starter from a year ago, including All-Big 12 third baseman Mariah Gearhart, who led the team in batting. Gearhart, a junior, finished with a .335 batting average, 58 hits, 46 runs scored and 32 stolen bases. Second baseman Alysia Hamilton, along with Gearhart, were named to the NFCA All-Midwest Region team.
They will be joined on the infield by sophomores Chelsea Garcia and Julie Ward, who was also an All-Big 12 selection, and freshmen Katie Asher and Taylor Smith.
Behind the plate will be another All-Big 12 player, senior Sam Heinlein. The Edmond, Okla., native started 44 games last season and finished with a .985 fielding percentage. She will be joined by junior Ashley Boyd and sophomore Tamara Brown.
Taylor Marcum, a junior for the Cowgirls, served as the designated player for the second half of last season. She's capable of playing first base, and has even added pitching to her gambit of skills.
Senior Anna Whiddon will lead the pitching staff this year and will be accompanied by junior Sarah Odom and freshman Kat Espinosa. Whiddon is coming off a season where she made 45 appearances, including 38 starts. She finished with 197 strikeouts, 17 complete games and 10 shutouts, including complete-game shutouts against No. 11 Stanford and twice against the Seminoles in the NCAA Regional.
The outfield will consist of seniors Katelyn Bright, Megan Castle, Breana Casaus -- who was granted a fifth year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending injury last year -- and Kelsey Anchors. Bright and Castle combined for 87 hits, 16 doubles, 42 runs batted in and 39 walks at the plate last season. They will be joined by sophomore Sammy Jo Diffendaffer and freshmen Amy Graham and Aaron Adams.
Cowgirls at the CenturyLink Classic
Friday
12 pm ... vs. UT Arlington
2 pm ... vs. Northern Illinois
Saturday
2:30 pm ... vs. Texas State
7 pm ... vs. New Mexico
Sunday
11:30 am ... vs. Texas State
