Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Rutgers
Offense Leads Cowgirls to Pair of Victories
February 15, 2014 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 15, 2014
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - The Oklahoma State softball team won both games during the second day of the UTSA Classic here Saturday at Roadrunner Stadium. The Cowgirls defeated Wichita State 9-2 and Rutgers 8-1.
The Cowgirls jumped on board in the top of the first inning against the Shockers when sophomore Danielle Riddle doubled to center field to bring home senior Tarah Ettinger and sophomore Tiffany Mikkelson.
Wichita State (5-2) struck back in the bottom half of the inning when Cacy Williams hit a two-run home run to center field, tying the game at 2-2.
The Cowgirls regained the lead in the top of the second inning when they plated three runs. The rally started when sophomore Dre McKee scored on a single up the middle by Shelby Davis. Ari Morrison then reached first on an error by the second baseman, allowing Shannon Kaufman to score from third. The following batter, Ettinger, singled to center and scored Davis to put the Cowgirls up 5-2.
OSU added one more run in the top of the fourth when Ettinger scored on a ground out to second by senior Simone Freeman to extend the Cowgirls lead to 6-2.
The Cowgirls weren't done scoring, and in the top of the seventh they plated three more runs. Kaufman singled to lead off the inning with a single and Davis followed with a double to the center field wall to put runners on second and third. Two batters later, Ettinger had an infield single, scoring Kaufman. Mikkelson doubled to center field, scoring Davis from third. The final run for the Cowgirls came when Riddle grounded to short, scoring Ettinger to put OSU up 9-2.
Freeman (4-2) got the start for the Cowgirls in the circle. She pitched six innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out 13 en route to her fourth victory of the season. Freshman Peyton Walker threw a shutout seventh for OSU.
Offensively ,the Cowgirls racked up 13 hits. Ettinger went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and Davis went 2-for-4 and an RBI. Kaufman was 3-for-4 and Mikkelson went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Riddle had one hit and three RBIs, while Morrison had one hit and one RBI. DeLaCruz also picked up a base hit for the Cowgirls.
In the nightcap, OSU once against scored in the top of the first frame when Davis scored on a ground out by Mikkelson to put the Cowgirls up 1-0. They added two more runs in the top of the third inning when Riddle's base hit scorde Morrison. Shianne Hughes followed with a base hit, scoring Ettinger from third, extending the Cowgirls lead, 3-0.
The Scarlet Knights (1-2) got on the board in the bottom of the third when Loren Williams scored on a single by Chandler Howard.
However, the Cowgirls got that run back and then some in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Whitney Whitehorn scored on a base hit by Morrison. With the bases loaded Ettinger crushed a grand slam to center field to put OSU up 8-1, which would be the final.
In the circle, Whitehorn (2-1) got the start, and in four innings, she allowed one run on seven hits while striking out three. Walker entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and pitched three innings, allowing just one hit.
At the plate, the Cowgirls pounded out 13 hits. Morrison was 3-for-3 with an RBI and Ettinger was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and the home run. Whitehorn went 2-for-3 with a double, and Davis went 2-for-4. Riddle and Hughes each had a hit and an RBI, while Gessenia DeLaCruz recorded a base hit for OSU.
The Cowgirls (6-3) close out play at the UTSA Classic tomorrow morning when they take on host-school UTSA at 11:30 a.m. Fans can follow the action via Twitter at @CowgirlSB.
