Oklahoma State University Athletics
Softball Set for Bedlam Series
May 09, 2013 | Cowgirl Softball
May 9, 2013
STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State softball team returns to action this weekend to wrap up regular-season play with a three-game Bedlam series against top-ranked Oklahoma. Friday's game will take place at Don E. Porter/ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday's contest will be played in Norman, Okla., at noon, and the regular-season finale will take place at Cowgirl Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m.
This is the 144th meeting between the Cowgirls and the Sooners (44-4, 12-2 Big 12) dating back to 1975, with OU leading the all-time series 73-70. The Cowgirls are 1-12 all-time against the No. 1 team in the country since the National Fastpitch Coaches Association began keeping track of the poll in 1995, including a 1-0 victory over top-ranked Georgia on Feb. 24, 2011.
The Cowgirls (30-23, 6-9) are coming off a series win over sixth-ranked Texas, winning Friday's contest 1-0 in nine innings and Saturday's game 2-1. In that series, junior Tarah Ettinger led the offense, batting .444 with four hits, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning on Saturday that proved to be the deciding factor in the 2-1 victory. Ettinger was also named Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time in her career due to her performance.
In the circle, senior Kat Espinosa compiled a 2.67 earned run average in 18-1/3 innings. She allowed seven runs in the three games while striking out 18. Espinosa threw a complete-game shutout in the 1-0 victory on May 3. Junior Simone Freeman pitched 4-2/3 innings last weekend and had a 1.50 ERA.
On the year, junior Ari Morrison leads the team with her .339 in batting average. Ettinger is hitting .338, and leads the team in hits (52), home runs (10), RBIs (42), and slugging percentage (.578). Senior Tamara Brown is hitting .313 with 36 runs, 11 doubles and 14 RBIs. Freshman Tiffany Mikkelson leads the team with 13 doubles.
In the circle, Espinosa is 18-16 and has a 2.47 ERA. She leads the Big 12 Conference with 229-1/3 innings pitched, and has started 36 games with 205 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Freeman sports a 2.39 ERA, with 157 strikeouts in 126 innings.
General admission tickets are on sale now for $8 through the Amateur Softball Association. To purchase tickets, fans can call 800-654-8337 or visit www.SoftballOutlet.com. For fans attending the game, the ASA and The Oklahoman will be running a paper drive to benefit North Highland Elementary School in Oklahoma City. Fans are encouraged to bring a new pack of white copy paper and in exchange they will receive a FREE ASA Complex souvenir drink and hot dog.
Fans can also watch a live stream of the game on-line at www.USASoftball.com.
