Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Set for Mardi Gras Invitational
February 11, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 11, 2015
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State softball team will travel to Mobile, Ala., on Friday to begin play at the Mardi Gras Invitational, hosted by South Alabama. The Cowgirls will play two doubleheaders in as many days, and will face off against Lipscomb, South Alabama, Evansville and Butler. Live stats will be available through okstate.com.
Game Notes 
Weekend Schedule
Friday, Feb. 13 – vs. Lipscomb – 2:45 p.m. CT
Friday, Feb. 13 – at South Alabama – 5 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 14 – vs. Evansville – 1:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 14 – vs. Butler – 6 p.m. CT
Last Time Out
Last weekend, the Cowgirls opened the season with a three-game set against 12th-ranked Arizona on the Wildcats' home turf. Oklahoma State's revamped squad was displayed throughout each game of the series, as no less than three freshmen earned starts in each matchup. In Friday's season opener, Brandi Needham started in the circle, making her first appearance in a Cowgirl uniform after compiling an impressive freshman campaign at Illinois last season. After taking a 1-0 lead on Mallory Collins' second inning home run, Oklahoma State was unable to contain Arizona's powerful offensive attack, which went on to score six runs in both the third and fourth innings before eventually posting a 12-2 victory.
In game two, sophomore starter Whitney Whitehorn held the Wildcats to three runs over five innings. On offense, the Cowgirl lineup threatened to score on multiple occasions, but was unable to push a run across against Arizona's stingy defense and starting pitcher Trish Parks.
Game three saw head coach Rich Wieligman start OSU's entire freshman class, as five Cowgirl youngsters took the field in the bottom of the first. Oklahoma State twice took the lead against the Wildcats, scoring twice in the fifth and once in the eighth after Vanessa Shippy scored on a misplayed ball by Arizona shortstop Kellie Fox. Although the Wildcats prevailed on walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth, both the Cowgirls' veterans and youth saw vital action and battled in three games against a high-quality opponent.
Youth of the Nation
With four seniors and two additional letter-winners gone from last season's squad, the five members of the Cowgirls' 2015 freshman class came to Stillwater knowing that they could make an instant impact. That group was in full force in the team's season-opening series at Arizona, as at least three freshmen started in each of the team's three games. The following list is a detailed look at the breakdown of freshmen starters from the opening weekend:
Feb. 6 Vanessa Shippy (2B), Maddi Holcomb (CF), Jessi Haffner (1B), Mallory Collins (LF)
Feb. 7 Vanessa Shippy (2B), Maddi Holcomb (CF), Mallory Collins (LF)
Feb. 8 Vanessa Shippy (2B), Maddi Holcomb (CF), Jessi Haffner (1B), Mallory Collins (LF), Randee O'Donnell (SS)
Instant Impact
Four Cowgirl freshmen made their collegiate debuts in Friday's season opener against Arizona, including Vanessa Shippy, Maddi Holcomb and Jessi Haffner. Shippy, a native of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, recorded her first-career hit with a third-inning double, while Holcomb knocked in her first-career RBI on a groundout in the fifth, which scored pinch runner Randee O'Donnell, also a freshman.
The highlight of the night, however, came in the top of the second, when freshman leftfielder Mallory Collins stepped to the plate for the first time in a Cowgirl uniform. Five pitches later, Collins sent a 2-2 pitch from Arizona starter Nancy Bowling over the leftfield fence, giving her a home run in her first collegiate at-bat. The Sand Springs, Okla., native went on to record base-hits in each of the next two games, putting her total bases tally at six after the opening weekend.
Speed Kills
Cowgirl senior Shelby Davis has been an invaluable asset on the basepaths throughout the first three years of her career. After swiping 23 bags in her first two seasons, Davis stole 41 bases in 2014, a season-total that stands at No. 2 on OSU's all-time list. Going into 2014, her 64 career stolen bases ranks third in school history, while also giving her the chance to ascend the list in 2015. Davis needs 52 stolen bases this season to become the all-time leader at OSU, as outlined in the following list:
All-Time Career Stolen Bases
1. 115 Mariah Gearhart (2008-11)
2. 108 Shanel Scott (2004-07)
3. 64 Shelby Davis (2012-pres.)
4. 47 Cyndi Smith (1995-96)
5. 41 Ari Morrison (2011-14)
Inside the 2015 Schedule
The 2015 schedule is highlighted by 26 games against teams that made last year's NCAA Tournament. The slate also boasts 37 matchups against teams that finished in the top-100 of the final 2014 RPI rankings. The following is a look at each of last season's NCAA Tournament teams featured on the 2015 Cowgirl softball schedule:
Team Postseason Final 2014 Record
Arizona Super Regionals 44-16
Lipscomb Regionals 41-15
South Alabama Regionals 42-14
Long Beach St. Regionals 39-19
Florida St. WCWS (8th) 55-9
Hofstra Regionals 34-15
Utah Valley Regionals 18-42
BYU Regionals 34-23
Tulsa Regionals 53-9
Baylor WCWS (4th) 49-16
Kansas Regionals 34-23
Texas Regionals 35-23
Oklahoma WCWS (5th) 51-13
Channel Surfing
On Saturday, May 9, Oklahoma State will be featured in the national spotlight, as the Cowgirls' matchup against Oklahoma will televised live on ESPN2. The Bedlam battle, set to begin at 2 p.m. CT, will be hosted by the Sooners, and will be available for fans to watch on the following cable providers: Suddenlink (31/231 HD), AT&T U-Verse (606/1606 HD), DirecTV (206/) and Dish Network (141).
Preseason Recognition
The Cowgirls were selected to finish fourth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, which was released on Jan. 21. The selection is the highest for the Oklahoma State in the history of the conference poll, which was introduced prior to the 1999-2000 season.
Team (first-place votes) Votes
1. Oklahoma (6) 36
2. Baylor (1) 30
3. Texas 27
4. Oklahoma State 19
5. Kansas 17
6. Iowa State 9
6. Texas Tech 9
