Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Face Tech in Doubleheader
April 22, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball
April 22, 2010
#7 Oklahoma State Cowgirls (40-7 overall, 9-0 Big 12) vs Texas Tech Red Raiders (31-12 overall, 3-8 Big 12) Rocky Johnson Field • Lubbock, Texas Thursday, April 22 • 5 p.m. (DH) Game Notes vs. Texas Tech in PDF Format On Tap
Thursday's initial game at 5 p.m. will be the first of five-straight games on the road for the Cowgirls. OSU and Texas Tech will play a second game immediately following the 5 o'clock contest. The Cowgirls are looking to extend their current 17-game winning streak, tied for the fourth-longest in the country this season. About the Cowgirls
Oklahoma State is 40-7 overall this season, 9-0 in Big 12 play and ranked No. 7 in both the NFCA and Ultimate College Softball Polls. The Cowgirls are eighth in the USA Softball/ESPN.com poll. Three losses this season have come against the top-two teams in the country (Washington and Michigan). The Cowgirls' 40-7 record is the best mark through 47 games since 1993 when Oklahoma State also started the season 40-7. OSU is currently on a 17-game winning streak and has won 34 of its last 37 contests. The 17-game winning streak ties for the fourth-longest in school history. At the Plate The Cowgirls are led by junior third baseman Mariah Gearhart who is batting .400 with 44 runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Julie Ward has a .359 batting average and a .703 slugging percentage with eight home runs and 20 doubles. She is second in the Big 12 with 48 RBIs and has three grand slams on the season. Nine 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 20-3 overall this season. She has a 1.79 earned run average in 148.2 innings pitched. She has 13 complete games, five shutouts, six saves and is averaging more than 7.7 strikeouts per seven innings. Freshman Kat Espinosa is 17-3 this season with a 1.20 earned run average, 22 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 Texas Tech Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Texas Tech 29-10 and has won the last four meetings. The Cowgirls outscored the Red Raiders 17-1 in three games last season, including a 7-0 win in the Big 12 Tournament. Oklahoma State is 11-4 against Texas Tech in Lubbock, but split the two-game series in 2008, the Cowgirls' last visit to West Texas. OSU lost four straight against Texas Tech by a total of five runs prior to the current four-game streak. Oklahoma State is 12-5 against Tech in shutouts, and 4-2 in extra-inning contests. Up Next OSU will head to Austin on Friday for a two-game set against No. 15 Texas (36-9 overall, 9-1 Big 12) on Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (noon). OSU will play at No. 14 Oklahoma (34-10, 8-3) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
