Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Cleveland State
Cowgirl Softball Remains Undefeated in Mizuno Classic
March 09, 2013 | Cowgirl Softball
March 9, 2013
Final Stats
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State Softball won two games Saturday and rides a four-game winning streak into the final day of the 2013 Mizuno Classic held at the OSU Softball Complex. OSU rallied with four runs in the final three innings to beat Cleveland State, 4-2 and run-ruled Santa Clara, 8-0, in five innings to end the day.
Oklahoma State is 11-12 on the year and will face Cleveland State at 12 p.m. CT. The Cowgirls will face Santa Clara at 2 p.m. to conclude the weekend.
In game one against Cleveland State (4-8), OSU fell behind 2-0 after giving up a two-run homer in the first inning. However, Oklahoma State continued to fire its way back into the game. Timely hitting was the key for the Cowgirls against CSU.
OSU tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning. With two runners on and one out, senior Tamara Brown doubled to left center field scoring two. Brown went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Oklahoma State rallied for two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman Tiffany Mikkelson hit a double to right field to start the rally. Sophomore Shelby Davis reached on an infield single to put two runners on. With two on and two outs, senior Stephanie Brewer lined a two-run double over the head of the right fielder. Mikkelson and Davis scored making it 4-2 Oklahoma State.
The Cowgirls received solid pitching performances from starter Simone Freeman and reliever Kat Espinosa. Freeman settled down after the first inning and managed to go five innings in the circle. She allowed two runs, gave up four hits and struck out nine. Espinosa earned the save by pitching the final two innings. It was her second save of the year.
Offensively, OSU had seven hits in the game including three doubles.
In the evening game with Santa Clara (2-16), it was all Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls scored six runs on three hits in the first inning. Mikkelson had an RBI double in the inning, while sophomore Gessenia DeLaCruz scored a pair of runs with a single through the left side.
OSU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to reach the run-rule limit. DeLaCruz reached on a double to left field. She would later score on a single up the middle by junior Shannon Kaufman. Sophomore Shelby Davis plated Kaufman on her triple down the right field line.
The Cowgirls had seven hits in the game and were highlighted by DeLaCruz, who was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Espinosa (4-6) pitched four innings without a problem. She only allowed three hits and picked up her fourth win of the year. Reliever Freeman pitched the final inning.
The Mizuno Classic concludes Sunday with games at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and the final contest at 2 p.m.
