Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Holds Media Day
February 08, 2012 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 8, 2012
Stillwater, Okla. — Oklahoma State's 11th-ranked softball team will open the 2012 season in Houston, Texas, this weekend at the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic. The Cowgirls will face North Texas and Sam Houston State on Friday, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 22 Houston on Saturday, and TAMUCC again on Sunday.
Oklahoma State is coming off a Women's College World Series appearance and finished the 2011 season ranked No. 8. The Cowgirls return six position starters and three pitchers from last year's 42-20 squad. Included in the players returning are senior first baseman Julie Ward, who already owns the school record for home runs in a career, and senior shortstop Chelsea Garcia, who has started every game of her college career.
In the circle for the Cowgirls is junior Kat Espinosa who finished last season with a 23-10 record and a 2.20 earned run average in 45 appearances. Also returning for their sophomore campaigns are Simone Freeman (9-8 record, 2.53 ERA) and Morgan Hawkins (6-0 record, 1.21 ERA).
OSU is 10-3 all time against UNT (22-30 in 2011), including a 9-5 win last season in Stillwater. The Cowgirls have an all-time record of 13-3 against Sam Houston State (22-32 in 2011), but haven't faced the Bearkats since 1998.
Oklahoma State will face the Southland Conference Champion TAMUCC twice over the weekend. This will be the second and third time the teams have played each other. The only other meeting was in 2008 when the Cowgirls won, 1-0.
A rematch of the 2011 Stillwater Super Regional will take place Saturday afternoon as the Cowgirls and the Houston Cougars face off. OSU went 2-2 against Houston last season, including two victories during the Super Regional to advance to the WCWS.
Hilton Houston Plaza Classic
Friday, February 10
11 am – vs. North Texas
1 pm – vs. Sam Houston State
Saturday, February 11
11 am – vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
1 pm – vs. No. 22 Houston
Sunday, February 12
9 am – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Quotes from head coach Rich Wieligman
On the upcoming season
“This will probably be one of our most challenging seasons thus far. The non-conference is really tough, and we've added an extra game to each conference series. So instead of playing two-game series, we're playing three-game series. It's going to be tough. We've got three National Team pitchers in our conference. They all threw this past summer for the National Team. When you combine all those obstacles together, I think it's going to make us a good team. I think battling through the tough conference games and playing in a tough road Regional and playing against the best pitching and best hitting in the country is what propelled us to the World Series last year. We're going through the same gauntlet again this year.”
“Our non-conference schedule is a tough lineup. We go down to (No. 22) Houston this weekend and they're ranked. The next weekend we go to Auburn and play Auburn, (No. 3) Alabama, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Three of those four were at a Regionals last year. We played Georgia Tech last year at Regionals and Alabama was a World Series team with us. Then we go out to Palm Springs, where I knew we were going to get tough games. We will play (No. 8) Arizona and (No. 16) Oregon who were Super Regional teams last season.”
“As a team, we aren't going to sneak up on anybody anymore. I think we used to be a team who was taken lightly. Now that we've been to the World Series, I think everyone is going to be a little more prepared for us. The difference in the community and around the state has been awesome. Everyone is wearing orange. It's great and everyone recognizes us now. Our players can go down to Oklahoma City and they're recognized as Oklahoma State Cowgirls who went to the World Series. I think it's great.”
On pitcher Kat Espinosa's low-key attitude
“I like Kat's mindset. She keeps me calm. She does her job. You have players who are high intensity and are outward with their intensity. Hers is inward and she just goes about her business and takes care of it. She does a great job with the way she controls the situation. That's what it's about from a pitcher's standpoint; to control the situation and the hitter.”
On what makes his team successful
“Any given day, any given part of our game will let us win a game. You don't have to be the best team on paper to win games. We just play and figure out a way to win: whether it's pitching or hitting or defense, as long as you combine it to figure out a way to win that day. Kat may not have as good of a day one day and our hitting will pick us up. “
On how appearing in the WCWS last season helps
“The experience that we got winning at Regionals on the road then coming back to win a Super Regionals at home to qualify for the World Series, you can't imagine the confidence that gives the players. They know they can handle just about anything after the stage they've been on. It gets them to grow up even more. They don't even realize how much they've grown until they go play these games. I just think the experience of winning those games has a huge payoff.”
On which newcomers will help immediately
“We've got Shelby Davis in the outfield. She was the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year. She is fast, she plays hard and is a slapper with power. The kid can slap the ball out of the park sometimes. She's been known to do that. She's going to come in, get on base and steal some bags for us. Gessenia DeLaCruz is filling in Mariah's place at third base. She can swing the bat and has some power. Those are the two main freshmen who will see most of the playing time. We have Hanna Bowen and Taylor Woodall who are doing some good things, they have improved a lot and they have a chance to get in the lineup with their bats."
Quotes from junior pitcher Kat Espinosa
On her calm, quiet attitude in the circle
“I am a very humble person. When I'm on the mound, I just do my job. I don't worry about anything else. I don't pay attention to how the other pitcher acts. I just get in my own little zone. When I'm out there I try not to get too excited or too relaxed and just play my game.”
On what motivates her
“My team and my coaches have definitely motivated me a lot. The support of my family means a lot and helps motivate me to pitch well. “
On what she has worked on improving
“What I hope I've improved on is getting a drop ball and a change up, mostly the change-up. I think I've finally found that.”
Quotes from senior shortstop Chelsea Garcia
On Espinosa
“I am very confident and comfortable when Kat is on the mound. She has matured so much in the last couple of years, and having her up there makes me feel a lot better. Even if something bad happens, I know she won't lose her cool. She is very level-headed.”
On what making the WCWS has taught her
“After going to the World Series, I've learned that hard work really does pay off, and little girls' dreams really can come true. Coach always says we're blue collar and we work hard. The World Series appearance showed that.”
On trying to become a leader like Mariah Gearhart
“I don't think anyone could ever compare to Riah's intensity. That's irreplaceable. I try to continue to lead by example. Julie Ward is more vocal. I think our seniors this year really do compliment each other. I feel like I say something when it's necessary but most of the time I'm quiet. Coach always says I was super quiet my freshman year and each year I've gotten a little louder.”
On what she has worked on improving
“I try to continually improve all-around. My hitting from my freshman year to now has drastically changed. I struggled a lot my freshman year. I still continue to work at that because I know it is something that is not set in stone. I was not given the ability to just hit home runs all the time. I continue to work on that and defense as well.”
