March 9, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. (OSU Athletics ) -- The 20th-ranked Oklahoma State softball team will host the Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Cowgirl Stadium. The Cowgirls are 15-5 on the season and are coming off a 2-2 weekend when they faced three ranked opponents.
OSU is led at the plate by senior infielders Mariah Gearhart and Alysia Hamilton. Gearhart, OSU's leadoff hitter and third baseman, is batting .453 with 24 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Hamilton, the three-hole hitter and second baseman, is hitting .406 with five doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs.
In the circle, sophomore Kat Espinosa is 9-2 with a 1.69 ERA and three shutouts. Freshman Simone Freeman is 5-3 with a 2.16 ERA and five complete games.
The Shockers are 6-14 after playing in four tournaments so far this season. They are batting .279 as a team and are led by Jamie Hull who is batting .389. The senior first baseman has five doubles, three home runs and 14 runs batted in. The WSU pitching staff has a combined ERA of 4.43 and is led by sophomore Katie Armagost. She has a 2.75 ERA, a 4-4 record and 25 strikeouts in 43.1 innings pitched.
Oklahoma State has an all-time record of 71-6 against Wichita State including a 2-0 record last season when the Cowgirls shut out the Shockers in both games.
