Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Host Cyclones
April 09, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball
April 9, 2010
#12 Oklahoma State Cowgirls
(34-7 overall, 5-0 Big 12)
vs
Iowa State Cyclones
(22-17 overall, 1-3 Big 12)
Cowgirl Stadium • Stillwater, Okla.
Saturday, April 10 • 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 11 • 12 p.m.
Radio • KSPI 780 AM Stillwater
Game Notes vs. Iowa State in PDF Format 
On Tap
Oklahoma State hosts the Iowa State Cyclones this weekend in a pair of Big 12 Conference games. The first game is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday and the second for noon on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast over the radiowaves on KSPI 780 AM. ISU is 22-17 overall this season and 1-3 in league play.
On Radio
Both games against Iowa State this weekend will be broadcast on KSPI 780 AM in Stillwater, with Bill Van Ness handling the play-by-play duties. Wednesday night's game at Tulsa will be broadcast on KGFY 105.5 FM in Stillwater.
In the Polls
Oklahoma State's No. 12 national ranking in the NFCA Coaches Poll is the Cowgirls' highest ranking since the end of the 1998 season, when OSU was ranked 11th. Oklahoma State had not been ranked since the beginning of the 2004 season when the Cowgirls were ranked No. 21 in the preaseason poll.
About the Cowgirls
Oklahoma State is 34-7 overall this season and ranked No. 10 in the latest Ultimate College Softball poll, 11th in the USA Softball/ESPN.com top-25 rankings, and 12th in 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' 34-7 record is the best mark through 41 games since 1994 when Oklahoma State started the season 35-7. OSU is currently on an 11-game winning streak and has won 28 of its last 31.
At the Plate
The Cowgirls are led by junior third baseman Mariah Gearhart who is batting .417 with 39 runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Julie Ward has a .359 batting average and a .692 slugging percentage with seven home runs and 18 doubles. She is second in the Big 12 with 46 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. Four 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 1.97 earned run average in 127 innings pitched. She has 12 complete games, four shutouts, four saves and is averaging more than 7.7 strikeouts per seven innings. Freshman Kat Espinosa is 13-3 this season with a 1.34 earned run average, 19 starts, nine complete games and four shutouts this season.
Series History vs Iowa State
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Iowa State by a 50-15 margin. The Cowgirls are 15-7 vs. the Cyclones in Stillwater, and have split the last two series at Cowgirl Stadium. Five of ISU's 15 wins in the series have come since the Big 12 formed in 1996, and OSU is 21-5 during that span. Oklahoma State is 7-1 vs. Iowa State as a ranked team. The Cyclones hold a 4-3 edge for games that go into extra innings, but the Cowgirls have been dominant in shutouts, leading ISU 21-4.
Up Next
Oklahoma State heads to Tulsa on Wednesday night for game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on the TU campus.
