Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Hosts Fall Opener
September 16, 2014 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER, Okla. -
The Oklahoma State softball team will open its fall exhibition schedule on Wednesday, Sept. 17, when the Cowgirls welcome Eastern Oklahoma State College for a ten-inning scrimmage, set to begin at 5 p.m. at Cowgirl Stadium.
Wednesday's opener gives fans their first chance to see the Cowgirls' revamped 2014-15 squad, highlighted by seniors Shelby Davis (centerfield) and Gessenia DeLaCruz (shortstop), along with talented freshmen Maddi Holcomb, Mallory Collins and Vanessa Shippy, who was named the Gatorade Idaho Softball Player of the Year in the spring.
“We're going to have a young team, so our fall scrimmages will give us a head start on figuring out who will be stepping up to earns spots in the spring,” head coach Rich Wieligman said. “All of the girls have been working extremely hard, and we're excited to see what they can do in a game-type atmosphere."
Davis, a native of Goddard, Kan., enters her final year with the Cowgirls after leading last season's squad in numerous offensive categories, including batting average (.385), runs (37) and stolen bases (41), helping her earn All-Midwest Region and All-Big 12 honors.
Third baseman Tiffany Mikkelson, OSU's leader in RBIs last season, outfielders Danielle Riddle and Shianne Hughes, and catcher Miranda Cavin round out the rest of the returning starters.
Oklahoma State will also get its first look at its collection of pitchers fighting to earn an opening-day start and replace former Cowgirl Simeone Freeman, who capped off her OSU career with a 21-17 record in 2014.
Whitney Whitehorn (4.02 ERA, 31 K's), Peyton Walker (4.40 ERA) and Meagan Lively (1-2, 39 K's) fill out the Cowgirls' returning pitching staff from the 2013-14 squad. Illinois-transfer Brandi Needham (17-15, 2.86 ERA) adds additional experience to Oklahoma State's pitching arsenal, while Jessi Haffner provides youth on the mound after a stellar high school career in Wichita, Kan.
Following Wednesday's exhibition, the Cowgirls will host NOC-Enid (Sept. 24), Southern Nazarene (Sept. 30) and Arkansas (Oct. 5) before traveling to Tulsa for an in-state matchup on Oct. 11.
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