Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Look to Extend Streak
April 16, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball
April 16, 2010
#9 Oklahoma State Cowgirls
(37-7 overall, 7-0 Big 12)
at
Kansas Jayhawks
(18-24 overall, 1-8 Big 12)
Arrocha Ballpark • Lawrence, Kan.
Saturday & Sunday, April 17 & 18 • 2 & 12 p.m.
Radio • KSPI 780 AM • Stillwater
Game Notes vs. Kansas in PDF Format 
On Tap
Oklahoma State is in the midst of a stretch of playing eight of nine games on the road. This weekend, the Cowgirls travel to Lawrence, Kan., to take on the Kansas Jayhawks. Games are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. The games will be broadcast on KSPI 780 AM in Stillwater.
On Radio
Both games this weekend will be broadcast over the radiowaves on KSPI 780 AM in Stillwater. Bill Van Ness will handle the play-by-play duties. In fact, 11 of OSU's final 13 games this season will be broadcast by Stillwater Radio.
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 37-7 overall this season and ranked No. 8 in the latest Ultimate College Softball poll. The Cowgirls are 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' 37-7 record is the best mark through 44 games since 1993 when Oklahoma State started the season 40-7. OSU is currently on a 14-game winning streak and has won 31 of its last 34 contests. The 14-game winning streak is the 10th-longest in school history.
At the Plate
The Cowgirls are led by junior third baseman Mariah Gearhart who is batting .402 with 41 runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Julie Ward has a .355 batting average and a .702 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. Seven 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 1.90 earned run average in 136 innings pitched. She has 12 complete games, four shutouts, five saves and is averaging more than 7.6 strikeouts per seven innings. Freshman Kat Espinosa is 16-3 this season with a 1.20 earned run average, 21 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.
Series History vs Kansas
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Kansas by a 61-42 margin, including an 18-10 mark for games played in Lawrence. Since the Big 12 formed in 1996, the Cowgirls are 24-12 against the Jayhawks. OSU is 10-3 vs. KU in extra-inning contests, and 22-21 in shutouts. Oklahoma State is 14-3 against Kansas when ranked as one of the top-25 teams in the country, including a 7-1 mark in Lawrence. The Cowgirls swept both games against the Jayhawks last season in Stillwater.
Up Next
Oklahoma State will host Wichita State (14-22 overall, 4-8 Missouri Valley) in a midweek game on Tuesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in Stillwater. That game will be broadcast on KGFY 105.5 FM. It will be OSU's final non-conference game of the regular season.
