Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Opens Season at No. 12 Arizona
February 04, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 4, 2015
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State softball team will open its 2015 season on Friday, Feb. 7, as the Cowgirls begin a three-game set at No. 12/14 Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. Friday's season opener will begin at 6 p.m. CT, and can be followed through live stats and video provided by ArizonaWildcats.com.
Game Notes - Arizona 
Weekend Schedule
Friday, Feb. 7 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 - 3 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 9 - 1 p.m.
(All times CT)
Season Outlook
Friday's opener will give fans their first chance to see the Cowgirls' revamped 2015 squad, highlighted by seniors Shelby Davis (centerfield) and Gessenia DeLaCruz (shortstop), along with a talented incoming freshman class that includes Vanessa Shippy, who was named the Gatorade Idaho Softball Player of the Year in the spring.
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.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 12/14 Arizona is coming off a strong 2014 campaign, in which the squad finished at 44-16 overall and 14-10 in Pac-12 play. After earning the No. 11 overall seed of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats won the Tucson Regional, where host-team Arizona defeated LSU, 13-5 in the regional's decisive game seven. However, Arizona's season came to end when the Wildcats suffered consecutive defeats to Louisiana-Lafayette in the Super Regional round.
Leading the way offensively for the Wildcats are Kellie Fox (reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year), Chelsea Goodacre (tied for fourth in the country with 22 home runs in 2014), Katiyana Mauga (2014 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year) and Hallie Wilson (tied for second in the country with 73 runs in 2014), each of whom were represented on this season's USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List.
In the circle, the Wildcats face the challenge of replacing three seniors from last year's squad, including Estela Pinon, who went 19-9 with a 3.09 ERA last season. Michelle Floyd (4-0, 1.27 ERA) and Nancy Bowling (7-0, 2.80 ERA) are the only returners from last season's pitching arsenal.
Leading Off in 2015
Over the course of the team's 37-year history, the Cowgirls have compiled a 31-6 record in season openers. A historical look at how Oklahoma State has fared in its season openers:
The 2015 squad will look to continue a trend of starting the year out on the right note, as the Cowgirls have recorded a victory in each of their last eight season openers. The last time OSU began the season with loss came in 2006, when the Cowgirls fell to Cal Poly, 16-12, in eight innings.
Head Coach Rich Wieligman has accumulated an undefeated record in season openers since taking over the Oklahoma State coaching staff in 2007. That season, the Cowgirls defeated UTSA, 5-3, in Wieligman's first game as head coach. Overall, Wieligman has delivered an 8-0 record in season-opening games at OSU.
Friday's game against No. 12/14 Arizona will mark the fourth time the Cowgirls have opened the season against a ranked opponent. Overall, Oklahoma State has compiled a 2-1 record in these games. The following is a list of OSU's all-time record against ranked opponents in season openers.
Year Opponent Result
1995 No. 12 Florida State W, 5-1
2003 No. 6 Washington L, 4-5 (8)
2009 No. 11 Stanford W, 1-0
With tournament play included, the Cowgirls' series-opening game against the Wildcats will mark the 30th time the team has opened the season on the road. Prior to this season, Oklahoma State has recorded a record of 24-6 in those games, further evidencing the team's tradition of starting out the year in the win column.
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
