Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Missouri State
Softball Splits Double Header with Missouri State
March 09, 2014 | Cowgirl Softball
March 9, 2014
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State softball team split a doubleheader with Missouri State Sunday afternoon to close out play at the 2014 Mizuno Classic. The Cowgirls defeated the Bears 5-2 in the first game, but dropped the second half of the twin bill, 5-1.
The Cowgirls went 3-1 on the weekend to improve their record to 15-8.
In the first game, the Cowgirls fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, when Missouri State's Bethany Sullinger hit a solo home run. The Bears (12-7) added on another run in the bottom of the third inning when Ashley Brentz singled up the middle, scoring Ali Trickey from second base to extend Missouri State's lead to 2-0.
However, just as they have all season, the Cowgirls refused to quit and battled back, cutting the lead in half in the top of the fourth inning when Tarah Ettinger scored on a wild pitch.
OSU took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Simone Freeman scorched a double to right center, scoring Michaela Patton and Gessenia DeLaCruz and giving the Cowgirls the 3-2 lead. Ettinger helped the Cowgirls extend the lead in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run home run, her fourth of the season, and solidified OSU's 5-2 victory.
In the circle, Freeman (11-3) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out 11. Freeman was also 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs batted in.
At the plate, the Cowgirls strung together 11 hits. Shelby Davis went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Ettinger went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a home run and two runs scored. Danielle Riddle was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Tiffany Mikkelson also had a hit for OSU.
In game two, OSU fell behind in the top of the second when Stacia Boeckstiegel homered to center, putting Missouri State up 1-0. The Bears added four more runs in the top of the fourth inning, aided by Chelsea Jones' two-run home run, to give the bears a 5-0 lead.
OSU got a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 5-1. Morrison led the inning off with an infield single, and later scored on a Riddle double through the left side.
Whitney Whitehorn (4-4) started the game, throwing 2-1/3 innings. She gave up two runs on three hits while striking out one. Peyton Walker came on in relief with one out in the third inning and pitch two-thirds of an inning, giving up three runs on three hits. Freeman entered the game in the fourth, and was effective, throwing four scoreless innings while scattering three hits and striking out six.
At the plate, the Cowgirls had five hits. Riddle went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Morrison, Whitehorn and Shianne Hughes all recorded hits for the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls return to action Wednesday, March 12, when they travel to Denton, Texas, to take on North Texas at 6 p.m. CT.
