Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Set to Host Mizuno Classic
March 06, 2014 | Cowgirl Softball
March 6, 2014
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State softball team will host Drake, Missouri State and No. 17/20 Minnesota in the Mizuno Classic this weekend at Cowgirl Stadium. The Cowgirls will play five games in three days.
Competition is set to begin Friday at 11 a.m. when Missouri State (11-4) takes on Drake (5-14), followed by Minnesota (15-2) and Missouri State at 1:30 p.m.
The Cowgirls (12-7) open play Friday at 4:30 p.m. when they take on Drake and follow that with a game against No. 17/20 Minnesota at 7 p.m. On Saturday, OSU will take on Missouri State at 4:30 p.m. The Cowgirls wrap up play on Sunday when they face Missouri State at noon.
As for the rest of the field, Missouri State and Minnesota will play Saturday morning at 11, followed by Minnesota and Drake at 1:30 p.m. Those two teams will play one last time, Sunday at 10 a.m.
All-time, the Cowgirls are 5-1 against Drake, last defeating the Bulldogs 10-0 in 2009 in Stillwater. OSU last played Missouri State in Stillwater on April 5, 2011, when the Cowgirls defeated the Bears, 10-2. The Cowgirls are 7-6 all-time against Minnesota. OSU looks to avenge a 1-0 loss against the Golden Gophers from earlier this season when the two faced off on Feb. 9 in Baton Rouge, La.
The Cowgirls are coming off a 2-2 weekend and improved their record to 12-7, their best start since 2011.
The offense has continued to carry the Cowgirls. Overall, the team is batting .308 and is led by Shelby Davis with a .435 batting average. Davis also leads the team in hits (30), total bases (33) and on-base percentage (.480), and is tied with Ari Morrison in runs scored (18). Tarah Ettinger leads the Cowgirls in home runs with three. Tiffany Mikkelson is leading OSU in doubles (five), slugging percentage (.545) and runs batted in with 21.
In the circle, Simone Freeman (9-3) continues to lead the team with her 1.09 earned run average. In her 14 appearances, she has started 12 games, pitched 77 innings and has registered eight complete games with four shutouts. She's allowed 12 earned runs and struck out 115 batters that she's faced. Whitney Whitehorn (3-3) sports a 2.48 ERA in seven starts. In her 31 innings of work, she's allowed 11 earned runs and 34 hits, all while striking out 17. Peyton Walker continues to prove herself as a solid relief pitcher. In seven appearances, she has a 3.18 ERA and six strikeouts.
In Big 12 statistical rankings, the Cowgirls are fourth in the conference in batting average and third in ERA (1.95). Davis is second in hits and stolen bases (15), fourth in batting average, and is tied for sixth with Morrison in runs scored. Ettinger is tied for third with 12 walks, while Mikkelson ranks third in RBIs and tied for third in doubles. Meanwhile, Freeman is in the top three in all pitching categories. She ranks first in strikeouts, shutouts and opponent batting average (.144), second in wins, innings pitched, games started and complete games, and third in saves (one) and appearances.
Fans can follow the Cowgirls on okstate.com through GameTracker or the live video streaming option. Fans can also get updates via Twitter at @CowgirlSB.
