Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
11-9
Nebraska
10-11
Espinosa Throws No-Hitter as Cowgirls Win Two
March 09, 2012 | Cowgirl Softball
March 9, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. – Junior Kat Espinosa threw her second no-hitter of the season as the Oklahoma State softball team beat Nebraska 2-0 and Loyola (Chicago) 4-3 in the first day of the Mizuno Classic. The Cowgirls stay undefeated at home and are now 11-9 on the season.
OSU shut out Nebraska(10-11) with Espinosa in the circle, who was one walk shy of a perfect game. She is 6-3 on the season. The Cowgirls scored their two runs in the third inning. Freshman Gessenia DeLaCruz reached on a walk and was followed by Ari Morrison who hit an infield single. After Kelsey Anchors reached first on a Husker error to load the bases, Tamara Brown hit an RBI-single to the left side. Julie Ward hit into a fielder's choice in the next at-bat but Morrison was still able to score from third.
Nebraska's Ashley Hagemann threw an impressive game allowing just three hits for one earned run, striking out 10 and walking three. She is now 6-10 on the year.
In the Cowgirls first game of the day, they beat Loyola 4-3 in eight innings. After trailing 3-0 the whole game, Oklahoma State tied it up in the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Loyola (3-6) got three runs off five hits in the first inning.
After a few comeback opportunities throughout the game, OSU was finally able to get three across the plate in the seventh from Rambler errors. Anchors and Brown both reached on errors and Ward loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Then Chelsea Garcia and Shelby Davis hit back-to-back singles to score two runs. After another error loaded the bases and with two outs, Sammy Jo Diffendaffer pinch hit to walk in the tying run.
With the international tie breaker rule in effect, DeLaCruz started the eighth inning at second base. She advanced to third on a passed ball and scored as Kelsey Anchors grounded out. The Cowgirls held the Ramblers scoreless in the bottom of the eighth and won.
Simone Freeman picked up her fourth win of the season after throwing seven hitless innings. She struck out 10 and walked three.
The Cowgirls will play again tomorrow in the second day of the Mizuno Classic where the times have been changed. Because of impending bad weather, the first game of the day will be at 10 a.m. and OSU's game against UAPB will begin at noon. -OSU-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Espinosa (6-3)
L: Hagemann (6-10)
Batting:
2B: DeLaCruz 1
RBI: Brown 1 ; Ward 1
SH: Davis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morrison 1 ; DeLaCruz 1
