Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Set for Home Opener
February 27, 2014 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 27, 2014
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State softball team will play at Cowgirl Stadium for the first time in 2014 when the Cowgirls host to No. 15 Nebraska, Friday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. CT and Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission is free to all fans.
Entering this season, the Cowgirls are 49-46 against Nebraska (9-5). Last season when the two teams met, the Huskers ousted OSU in the doubleheader, defeating the Cowgirls 3-0 and 10-5, respectively. The last time the Cowgirls faced off against UAPB (1-6) was on March 10, 2012, when in the only meeting between the two teams, OSU downed the Lady Lions, 12-2.
In the circle, Simone Freeman continues to dominate. With an 8-2 record, she sports a 0.85 earned run average in her 66 innings pitched. She's allowed only eight earned runs and has struck out 98, with opponents' batting only .138. Whitney Whitehorn (2-2) continues to prove that she is a viable option for the Cowgirls behind Freeman, with a 1.75 ERA in five starts.
Offensively, the Cowgirls are batting .301 as a team and currently have three members hitting over .400. Leading the team in offensive categories are Danielle Riddle in batting average (.448), Tiffany Mikkelson in runs batted in (14) and doubles (four), Tarah Ettinger in slugging percentage (.511), Shelby Davis in hits (23) and total bases (25). Ettinger and Gessenia DeLaCruz are tied for the team lead in home runs with two each. Shannon Kaufman (.405) and Davis (.405) are the other two Cowgirls hitting over .400.
OSU continues to hold spots on the Big 12 lists. Kaufman and Davis are fifth and seventh in the conference in batting average. Davis continues to lead the conference in hits at 23 and is second with 11 stolen bases. Mikkelson is tied for third in doubles with four. Overall, the Cowgirl pitching staff is second in the conference with a team ERA of 1.73. Freeman is first in strikeouts (98) and shutouts (four), and is second in ERA (0.85), wins (eight), opponent batting average (.125), innings pitched (66), games started (10) and complete games (seven).
Fans can follow the action through GameTracker or via Twitter at @CowgirlSB.
