Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Face Golden Hurricane
April 13, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball
April 13, 2010
#9 Oklahoma State Cowgirls
(36-7 overall, 7-0 Big 12)
at
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
(22-16 overall, 6-3 Conference USA)
Donna J. Hardesty Complex • Tulsa, Okla.
Wednesday, April 14 • 6 p.m.
Radio • KGFY 105.5 FM Stillwater
Game Notes vs. Tulsa in PDF Format 
On Tap
Oklahoma State begins a stretch where eight of the Cowgirls' next nine games will be played on the road. OSU travels to Tulsa to face the Golden Hurricane (22-16 overall, 6-3 Conference USA) on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the Hardesty Complex. The game will be broadcast on KGFY 105.5 FM in Stillwater.
On Radio
Wednesday night's game at Tulsa will be broadcast on KGFY 105.5 FM in Stillwater with Bill Van Ness handling the play-by-play duties. He will also call both games at Kansas this weekend. They will air on KSPI 780 AM in Stillwater.
In the Polls
Oklahoma State's No. 9 national ranking in the NFCA Coaches Poll is the Cowgirls' highest ranking since April of 1998, when OSU was ranked eighth. Oklahoma State had not been ranked since the beginning of the 2004 season until the Cowgirls were ranked No. 21 in the preaseason poll entering 2010.
About the Cowgirls
Oklahoma State is 36-7 overall this season and ranked No. 8 in the latest Ultimate College Softball poll, and ninth in both the USA Softball/ESPN.com top-25 rankings and the NFCA Coaches poll. Five of the losses this season have come against top-25 opponents, including a loss to top-ranked Washington. The Cowgirls' 36-7 record is the best mark through 43 games since 1993 when Oklahoma State started the season 40-7. OSU is currently on a 13-game winning streak and has won 30 of its last 33 contests. The 13-game winning streak is tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
At the Plate
The Cowgirls are led by junior third baseman Mariah Gearhart who is batting .403 with 40 runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Julie Ward has a .361 batting average and a .714 slugging percentage with seven home runs and 19 doubles. She is second in the Big 12 with 47 RBIs and has three grand slams on the season. Eight different Cowgirls have at least 20 hits this season and six different players have scored at least 20 runs. Five different Cowgirls have a .400 or better slugging percentage at the plate this season.
In the Circle
Oklahoma State's pitching staff is led by senior Anna Whiddon who is 18-3 overall this season. She has a 1.95 earned run average in 133 innings pitched. She has 12 complete games, four shutouts, four saves and is averaging more than 7.5 strikeouts per seven innings. Freshman Kat Espinosa is 15-3 this season with a 1.24 earned run average, 20 starts, 10 complete games and five shutouts this season. This marks the first time since 1994 that two different Cowgirl hurlers have each recorded 15 or more victories. Kim Ward and Amy Day each had 20 wins that season.
Up Next
Oklahoma State will travel to Lawrence, Kan., this weekend for a two-game set with the Kansas Jayhawks (22-17 overall, 1-7 Big 12). The games are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
