Oklahoma State University Athletics
2016 Cowgirl Softball Position Preview: Pitchers
December 15, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER – Leading up to the start of the 2016 NCAA softball season, okstate.com will provide six different position previews for the Oklahoma State softball squad. This week's edition highlights the Cowgirl pitching staff.
This season's group of Cowgirls will welcome a pair of new faces to their pitching staff, both of whom will look to make immediate contributions. Senior Kacy Freeze and junior Shea Coats join returning starter Brandi Needham in head coach Kenny Gaweski's rotation.
Freeze joins the Cowgirls as a senior transfer from the University of Texas-San Antonio. During UTSA's 2015 campaign, Freeze posted an 11-5 record and a 3.08 ERA in 18 starts and 30 appearances. Freeze led the team with nine complete games, four saves and 121 strikeouts.
During Oklahoma State's 2015 fall season, Freeze made three starts in seven appearances, highlighted by a complete game victory over Arkansas in which she allowed only one run on five hits. Freeze led the Cowgirls in multiple categories, including strikeouts (30) and innings pitched (31.2).
"Kacy throws the ball really firm, and has worked extremely hard to be able to come to OSU and fit in right away," Gajewski said. "She's going to be a completely different look than what Brandi's got. She has already pitched at a high level, obviously, and has been successful against good competition. We're very optimistic about what she's going to be able to bring."
Oklahoma State also adds right-handed sophomore Shea Coats to its pitching arsenal for the upcoming season. Coats earned a spot with the Cowgirls after spending two seasons at Oklahoma Christian University, where she established herself as one of the most dominant pitchers in Division II competition.
During OCU's 2015 season, Coats made 52 starts and finished 42-9 on the season with a 1.80 ERA. She boasted 197 strikeouts in 183 innings pitched, and threw 20 complete games. Coats was named an NCCAA All-American for the second time in her career, and was also honored as the NCCAA Pitcher of the Year.
"Shea has pitched in some really big games, which is evident with her being named the Division II Pitcher of the Year last season," Gajewski said. "She brings some valuable experience to our staff, and she knows how to get hitters out. This will be a little bit of a change for her here and the competition will be greater, but she's obviously got the stuff to be a big-time kid."
In addition to its wealth of incoming talent, Oklahoma State also returns an experienced veteran in junior Brandi Needham. The Dripping Springs, Texas, native went 12-17 last season with a 4.61 ERA. Needham posted top-ten conference marks in numerous categories, including wins (12), strikeouts (74), shutouts (3), innings pitched (159.1) and complete games (16).
Needham's numbers were phenomenal during the fall, as she went 2-0 with a 0.26 ERA, making four starts in seven appearances. The junior tossed 19 strikeouts in 27 innings to help the Cowgirls successfully complete an undefeated eight-game slate.
"We've got Brandi [Needham] coming back, and she's going to be interesting to watch because I think she's going to be a completely different kid than what she was in her first year here," Gajewski said. "She has developed some new pitches, refined what she has already done well and looks really strong. She has done a tremendous amount of work in the weight room and off the field. It's very evident in the way she looks and feels, so we're looking for big things out of her."
The Cowgirl pitching staff also receives a huge boost with the addition of new pitching coach Charlotte Morgan, a three-time All-American at Alabama and former No.1 overall pick in the WPSL/NPF Draft. Morgan joins the Oklahoma State softball program after two successful seasons at Georgia Tech.
Freeze, Coats and Needham each bring experience and depth to the Cowgirl softball pitching rotation. The staff will be on full display when Oklahoma State opens its 2016 season at Texas State on Feb. 12.
