Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Wrap Up Regular Season With Aggies
May 07, 2010 | Cowgirl Softball
May 7, 2010
#11 Oklahoma State Cowgirls
(43-11 overall, 12-4 Big 12)
vs
#21 Texas A&M Aggies
(39-13 overall, 10-6 Big 12)
Cowgirl Stadium • Stillwater, Okla.
Saturday, May 8, 2 & 4 p.m.
Radio • KSPI 780 AM
Game Notes vs. Texas A&M in PDF Format 
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN SCHEDULE!!!
Oklahoma State wraps up the regular season this weekend as the Cowgirls host the Texas A&M Aggies. Because of the forecast for inclement weather on Sunday, the two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Senior Day recognition will take place prior to the first game, with five OSU seniors recognized for their contributions to the resurgence of Cowgirl softball.
About the Cowgirls
Oklahoma State is 43-11 overall this season and 12-4 in Big 12 play. A sweep of A&M would give OSU the most conference wins since the Big 12 adopted the current format of 18 league games in 1997. The Cowgirls are currently in third place in the Big 12 Conference. OSU is ranked No. 11 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 and the second-most by an team this season. OSU's 43-11 mark is the best since the 1994 season when the Cowgirls started out 46-11.
At the Plate
The Cowgirls are led by junior third baseman Mariah Gearhart who is batting .373 with 48 runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Julie Ward has a .336 batting average and a .685 slugging percentage with 10 home runs and 20 doubles. She is third in the Big 12 with 52 RBIs and has three grand slams on the season. Five different Cowgirls have at least 40 hits this season and eight 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 21-6 overall this season. She has a 2.18 earned run average in 167 innings pitched. She has 15 complete games, six shutouts, six saves and is averaging more than 7.6 strikeouts per seven innings. Freshman Kat Espinosa is 19-4 this season with a 1.51 earned run average, 25 starts, 13 complete games and seven shutouts this season. If Espinosa picks up one more victory, it will mark just the third time in school history — 1989 and 1994 are the others — that two pitchers each won 20 or more games in a single season.
On Radio
All remaining 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. This weekend's games will be aired on KSPI 780 AM. All postseason games will be broadcast as well.
Series History vs Texas A&M
OSU is 23-41 all-time against Texas A&M, including a 4-9 mark in Stillwater. The two teams have split the two-game series in each of the past two seasons. In fact, in seven of the 14 years since the Big 12 formed, the teams have split the regular-season series. The series is tied at 3-3 when both teams are ranked. A&M is 13-7 in shutouts, while OSU is 4-3 in extra-inning contests.
Winning at Home
The Cowgirls are 19-1 at home this season, with the lone loss coming against Tulsa on March 9. That mark ties for the best homefield record in Cowgirl softball history. Oklahoma State was also 19-1 at home during the 1993 season. One more win this weekend will give OSU the most home victories in a single season in school history. The next game played at Cowgirl Stadium will be the 21st this season, marking the most home games played in OSU softball history. Oklahoma State played 20 games in 1998 (16-4) and 1993 (19-1).
Up Next
Oklahoma State will take a week off before traveling down to Oklahoma City on Thursday for the Big 12 Softball Championships at ASA/Hall of Fame Stadium. OSU will likely serve as the No. 3 seed and play No. 6 (either Texas Tech or Nebraska) on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. on the alternate field.
