Cowgirl Softball Drops Doubleheader Against North Texas

Saturday, February 28

Houston, Texas

12:45 PM

Oklahoma State University

5-11

North Texas

7-9

North Texas

Oklahoma State

February 28, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Box Score

Feb. 28, 2015

CONROE, Texas - After sweeping a back-to-back with IPFW to open the weekend, the Oklahoma State softball team had its fortunes reversed on Saturday, as the Cowgirls fell to North Texas by scores of 5-3 and 4-0 at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex in Conroe, Texas.

Box Score - Game Two
Box Score - Game Two

“We have to pick it up,” head coach Rich Wieligman said. “Several of our girls hit the ball well today, and our pitching staff kept us in both games, but we still need to pick it up in certain areas. Having our first set of home games this weekend will be great for the team.”

The Cowgirls (5-11) pounded out 14 hits over the doubleheader, but were unable to develop consistency against the Mean Green's three-headed pitching attack of Stacey Underwood, Monique Garcia and Madison Thompson.

In the opener, Oklahoma State took its lone lead of the day in the bottom of the second, when Tiffany Mikkelson smashed a solo shot over the center field fence, giving the junior her first home run of the season. Three batters later, Mallory Collins stood on third with only one out, but back-to-back strikeouts from Dre McKee and Randee O'Donnell ended the threat.

North Texas responded immediately, scoring two in the third and three in the fourth behind four hits in each inning. After tossing a shutout against IPFW on Friday, Oklahoma State starter Meagan Lively would see her day come to an end in the fourth after giving up 11 hits and five runs.

Lively's replacement would turn out to be freshman Jessi Haffner, who earned her first career appearance in the circle. Over 3.2 innings of work, Haffner only allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two.

Haffner's relief efforts kept UNT scoreless the rest of the way, but OSU runs in the fourth and the sixth, including Mikkelson's second HR of the game, would not enough for the Cowgirls, who were eventually defeated, 5-3.

Overall, Mikkelson tallied nine total bases in the opener, finishing 3-4 with two HR, a single and two RBIs. Collins (2-2, BB) and Davis (2-4) also accumulated multi-hit performances for the Cowgirls.

In the second half of the twin-bill, Oklahoma State's timely-hitting woes continued, as the Cowgirls went 1-9 in potential RBI-producing situations. One of those instances came in the fourth, when OSU failed to capitalize on its only bases-loaded situation of the afternoon.

The Cowgirls threatened again in the fifth, as Shianne Hughes and Davis stood on second and third with one out. However, Mikkelson and Collins would pop out and ground out, respectively, to end another OSU scoring opportunity.

In the final frame, Davis (3-4, SB) reached base for her fourth time of the game, but was unable to spark a Cowgirl rally, as Oklahoma State finished its trip with a 4-0 defeat. Brandi Needham (4 ER, 3K) kept the Cowgirls within range behind her team-leading fourth complete game of the season.

Next weekend, Oklahoma State will host the Mizuno Classic in the team's home debut, set to begin on Friday, March 6, with a matchup against Evansville.