Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Faces Mizzou in Big 12s
May 13, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball
May 13, 2010
#14 Oklahoma State Cowgirls
(43-13 overall, 12-6 Big 12)
vs
#8 Missouri Tigers
(44-10 overall, 11-7 Big 12)
First Round • Big 12 Championship
Don E. Porter/ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Saturday, May 15, 2 p.m.
Radio • KSPI 780 AM
Game Notes for Big 12 Championship in PDF Format 
On Tap
Oklahoma State travels down I-35 to Oklahoma City to compete in the 2010 Big 12 Softball Championships. The Cowgirls will face Missouri in the quarterfinal round on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the alternate field at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
Up Next
The winner of the OSU-Mizzou game will advance to the semifinal round at 7:30 p.m. on the main field. The opponent will be either top-seeded Texas, No. 8 Baylor or No. 9 Iowa State. The winner of that game will advance to the championship game on Sunday at noon. That game will be televised by FSN.
About the Cowgirls
Oklahoma State is 43-13 overall this season and finished with a 12-6 mark in Big 12 play. The Cowgirls tied Texas A&M for third place in the Big 12 Conference but will serve as the tournament's No. 4 seed. OSU is ranked 14th in the latest NFCA Coaches poll and 13th in the USA Softball/ESPN poll. The Cowgirls' 43 wins are the fourth-most regular-season wins in school history. OSU's 43-13 mark is the best since the 1994 season when the Cowgirls finished with a 46-12 record. The Cowgirls' third-place finish is the highest since finishing second in 2003 with a 13-5 record.
Recapping the Season
The 2010 season has been a rollercoaster ride this season. A 17-game winning streak which included six wins over ranked opponents is easilly classified as the highest high. Losing six of the last nine contests, including four to ranked foes, is an obstacle that the Cowgirls must overcome quickly entering the postseason. OSU's 12 league victories are the third-most ever by the Cowgirls since the Big 12 formed, and Oklahoma State's 43 wins this season are the most since 1994 when OSU won 46 games. The Cowgirls have 10 wins over ranked teams this season, the most since '98.
OSU in the Championship
In the 14 previous Big 12 Championships, the Cowgirls have finished as high as second on two occasions (1997 and 2001). Oklahoma State also has three third-place finishes (1996, 1998 and 2003). OSU's record in the Big 12 Championship is 17-25. In the Big Eight days, the Cowgirls won six conference tournaments, including the last four from 1989-92. Oklahoma State's record in the Big Eight Tournament was 40-20, including victories in 14 of the last 15 games. Overall, Oklahoma State is 57-45 in the league tournament. Complete results are available on page 55 of the softball media guide.
Last Time vs Missouri
Oklahoma State swept Missouri for the first time since the 2003 season with a pair of victories over the Tigers earlier this season in Columbia. The Cowgirls won the first game 8-3 despite an overnight suspension due to rain. Down 3-0, a sacrifice fly by Julie Ward plated Kelsey Anchors in the top of the third. Chelsea Garcia hit a two-run home run, tying the game before the rain suspension. The Cowgirls came out and scored five more runs, two unearned, to wrap up game one the next day. Back-to-back doubles by Ward and Tamara Brown was all the offense Kat Espinosa needed as she threw a three-hit shutout in game two, giving OSU a 1-0 victory and the sweep of No. 4 Missouri.
Series History vs Missouri
Oklahoma State is 57-35 all-time against Missouri. That record includes a 9-6 mark in Oklahoma City and a 9-8 record in the conference (Big Eight & Big 12) tournament. OSU is 1-5 vs. MU in the Big 12 Championship. The Cowgirls swept the Tigers earlier this season for the first time since 2003. Oklahoma State is 9-3 vs. Mizzou when both teams are ranked, 26-13 in shutouts and 7-3 in extra-inning contests.
On Radio
All postseason Cowgirl softball games will be broadcast over the airwaves by Stillwater Radio, either on KGFY 105.5 FM or KSPI 780 AM. Bill Van Ness, in his 12th season with Cowgirl softball, handles the play-by-play duties. Saturday's game vs. Missouri will be aired on 780 AM. Should OSU play Saturday night in the semifinals, that game will be broadcast on 105.5 FM. Sunday's game would be broadcast on 780 AM.
NCAA Selection Show
The 2010 NCAA Regional pairings and sites will be announced on Sunday, May 16, at 9 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
