Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Hosts In-State Rival Tulsa
March 24, 2015 | Cowgirl Softball
March 24, 2015
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State softball team will host Tulsa on Wednesday for a mid-week battle at Cowgirl Stadium, set to begin at 7 p.m. The contest will mark the team's final game before beginning conference play, as the Cowgirls open their Big 12 slate against Baylor on Friday. Live stats for Wednesday's game can be found at okstate.com or on Twitter at @CowgirlSB, and fans can listen on the radio at 105.5 KGFY FM.
Game Notes
General admission tickets for all Cowgirl softball home games are $5, and can be purchased by phone at (877) 255-4678, at the OSU Athletic Ticket office on the NE corner of Gallagher-Iba Arena or at Cowgirl Stadium one hour prior to first pitch on game days.
Last Time Out
Oklahoma State started the weekend with a bang, as the Cowgirls defeated Utah Valley by scores of 9-1 and 10-2 on the Wolverines' home field. Brandi Needham allowed a solo home run in the first contest, but controlled the Wolverine offense throughout a majority of the game. The sophomore surrendered only seven hits, and posted six strikeouts over the course of the victory.
In only her fourth start of the year, Jessi Haffner kept the Wolverines scoreless through the first four frames of game two. The freshman tossed seven strikeouts while scattering only five hits, eventually earning a complete game victory. With the win, Haffner's record improved to a perfect 4-0.
Mikkelson's second-inning double in the back end of the twin-bill extended her hitting streak to 13 games, dating back to her 2-4 performance against Evansville on March 6. During that span, Mikkelson had hit a whopping .514, pushing her season average up to .402.
The Cowgirls would end the weekend with three-consecutive losses to BYU, but will look to return to their winning ways in Wednesday's matchup with Tulsa.
Scouting the Opponent
Team Information
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (19-10, 3-0)
American Athletic Conference
2014 Record: 53-9 (NCAA Regionals)
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/3
Newcomers: 4
Season Leaders
BA - Brittany Walker - .442
Hits - Kernen/Sampson - 33
HR - Julie Kernen - 8
Wins - Bailey Erwin - 9
ERA - Emily Watson - 1.98
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 ranked third in school history, while also giving her the chance to ascend the list in 2015.
During the Cowgirls' trip to Utah last weekend, Davis added three stolen bags to her 2015 campaign, bringing her season total to 33. She now needs 19 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. 97 Shelby Davis (2012-pres.)
4. 47 Cyndi Smith (1995-96)
5. 41 Ari Morrison (2011-14)
Instant Impact
Four Cowgirl freshmen made their collegiate debuts in the team'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.
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).
