Cowgirls Advance to NCAA Super Regionals

Sunday, May 22

Knoxville, Tenn.

1:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

40-17

Tennessee

49-12

Tennessee

Oklahoma State

May 22, 2011 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score

May 22, 2011

Stillwater Super Regional Central

Final Stats

Knoxville, Tenn. -- Freshman Tarah Ettinger hit a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the sixth and left fielder Tamara Brown threw out the potential game-tying run at home plate in the top of the seventh, and Oklahoma State's softball team survived a late Tennessee rally as OSU defeated the fifth-ranked Lady Volunteers 6-5 here Sunday afternoon and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional.

Oklahoma State scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Mariah Gearhart was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and stole second base. With one out, she score from second on a groundout by Alysia Hamilton. The catcher fielded the ball, and nobody covered home as the Cowgirl speedster ran in for a 1-0 lead.

OSU added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Kelsey Anchors led off the inning with a walk, and Gearhart was safe on a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Ari Morrison laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Anchors scored on a sacrifice fly by Hamilton. A base hit by Julie Ward to left field scored Gearhart, giving OSU a 3-0 lead.

Tennessee scored one run in the top of the fourth on a two-out double by Madison Shipman. The Lady Vols took a 4-3 lead in the fifth. Shelby Burchell led off the frame with a solo home run, which brought in senior Sarah Odom to replace starter Kat Espinosa in the circle. The Cowgirl lefty issued a walk and gave up a single before Kat Dotson hit a two-run single to centerfield.

After a couple of base hits and an error by UT pitcher Ellen Renfroe, Ettinger pinch hit for nine-hole hitter Kelsey Anchors. The Cowgirl rookie from Illinois, who had just 39 at-bats this season entering Sunday's contest, hit a 3-2 count to right center, scoring Chelsea Garcia and Brown. Pinch runner Kelsea Schultz also scored on the play after a throwing error on the Tennessee second baseman gave her a clear path to home.

The Lady Vols didn't go away quietly. A walk followed by a single gave UT two baserunners with no outs. A groundout moved both runners up, and a sacrifice fly by Jessica Spigner cut the lead in half. With two outs and a runner on second, Lauren Gibson hit a drive to left field. Brown charged the ball and caught it cleanly, throwing a strike to Ashley Boyd at home to end the game.

Oklahoma State (40-17) advances to the NCAA Super Regional for the first time in school history, and will host the Houston Cougars (43-16) next weekend. The first game will be played Friday while the second and if-necessary game will be played on Saturday. The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.