Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bases Loaded: Cowgirls Finish Strong in Florida
February 18, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER -Â The Oklahoma State softball team continued to build momentum during its second week of play this past weekend, posting a 3-2 record at the stacked St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational to sit at 7-3 through 10 games.
OSU lost its first two matchups of the weekend, falling to No. 8 LSU and Notre Dame, but rallied to best Utah, California and Hofstra over the final two days in the Sunshine State. A quick look at some of the top talking points coming out of week two:
First Base: Ready to Rally
The Cowgirls have certainly shown a knack for building toward a crescendo in the early goings of the 2019 season, both in individual performances and overall play in a weekend-by-weekend setting. The first two weeks of the season highlight this dramatic build, as OSU lost its opening matchup of both the Houston Invitational and St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, but finished off each tournament by winning four and three consecutive contests, respectively.
In single-game settings, the Cowgirls have faced first-inning deficits in three of their last four games, and in the last two have used fourth-inning rallies to flip the scoreboard and secure OSU wins. The comebacks against Kentucky, California and Hofstra displays a team that knows how to tackle the big moments, even when the Pokes might not be playing their best softball.
Oklahoma State's early ability to win games, despite not putting in peak performances on the dirt, could be a good sign for the coming months. The team's ability to build the drama by starting slow and finishing strong could be an overarching theme of 2019, as the Cowgirls look to build toward playing their very best softball during conference and postseason play.
Second Base: A Sue-per Finish
Oklahoma State senior Madi Sue Montgomery got off to a slow start this past weekend in the Sunshine State, going 0-for-10 at the plate and reaching base safely only once during the Cowgirls' first three outings of the Elite Invitational. That trend continued in the first part of OSU's come-from-behind victory over California, but Montgomery put a quick end to it with a game-tying solo home to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning.
It was Montgomery's first home run of the season and snapped an 11-game homerless streak that dated back to the start of last season's NCAA Fayetteville Regional.
The left-handed hitter continued to hit ball hard in the second half of the Saturday doubleheader, as she went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a season-high three runs batted in. It was Montgomery's second multi-hit game of the season, and her performance Saturday resonated with coach Kenny Gajewski, who said that her strong finish to the Elite Invitational could potentially spark the three-time All-Big 12 performer moving forward as she, like the rest of her Oklahoma State teammates, looks to round into top form as the season progresses.
Third Base: Slicin' and Dicin'
Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski has talked about the depth of this year's pitching staff, as well as the importance of having that depth as the season wears on. At the front of OSU's rotation so far this year has been an intriguing 1-2 punch that will be vital to the Cowgirls' success in 2019.
Samantha Show and Logan Simunek make up this dynamic tandem, with both bringing a different, yet incredibly effective, skillset to the table for Gajewski and staff.
The two combined to throw 23 of Oklahoma State's 34 innings this past weekend, with both making three appearances at the Elite Invitational. Show started twice and led the Cowgirls with 13 innings pitched and eight strikes, while Simunek started once and struck out seven in 10 innings of work.
Show and Simunek each had a starring performance in the circle this past weekend.
Show retired the final 14 batters she faced in a one-run, complete-game effort against California on Feb. 16. Simunek, meanwhile, allowed just one run on three hits in a 5.1-inning day against Utah on Feb. 15, while also earning her fifth career save with a two-inning showing against Hofstra in OSU's Florida finale.
The pair, along with the other three arms in the Cowgirl bullpen, will be instrumental in Oklahoma State's success moving forward this season.
Home Plate: Running The Gauntlet
OSU head coach Kenny Gajewski has made it a point to push his players past their limits to improve and prepare for postseason play. One of the ways he has achieved that feat is by consistently putting the Cowgirls up against the best teams in the country.
In Oklahoma State's 10 games this season, the Cowgirls have faced seven teams that were either ranked or were receiving votes in at least one of the national polls. That group was highlighted by a pair of contests against No. 13 Kentucky and No. 8 LSU.
This week, the non-conference gauntlet continues for the Cowgirls, as they head west to compete at the 2019 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, which boasts arguably the most impressive field of any early-season tournament in the country.
While in Cathedral City, California, the Cowgirls will face two of the Pac-12's powerhouse programs in Arizona and Arizona State, with three other competitive matchups against Colorado State, North Carolina and San Diego State rounding out the five-game slate that awaits OSU out west.
Three of the teams on the Cowgirls' schedule for the upcoming weekend are currently either ranked or receiving votes. If those teams hold steady or move up in the rankings this week, it would mean that OSU will have faced 10 teams that were either ranked or receiving votes during its first 15 games of the 2019 season.
The old adage says that to be the best, you've got to beat the best, but only time will tell just how beneficial this early-season gauntlet is to the Cowgirls as they move toward Big 12 and postseason play.
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OSU lost its first two matchups of the weekend, falling to No. 8 LSU and Notre Dame, but rallied to best Utah, California and Hofstra over the final two days in the Sunshine State. A quick look at some of the top talking points coming out of week two:
First Base: Ready to Rally
The Cowgirls have certainly shown a knack for building toward a crescendo in the early goings of the 2019 season, both in individual performances and overall play in a weekend-by-weekend setting. The first two weeks of the season highlight this dramatic build, as OSU lost its opening matchup of both the Houston Invitational and St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, but finished off each tournament by winning four and three consecutive contests, respectively.
In single-game settings, the Cowgirls have faced first-inning deficits in three of their last four games, and in the last two have used fourth-inning rallies to flip the scoreboard and secure OSU wins. The comebacks against Kentucky, California and Hofstra displays a team that knows how to tackle the big moments, even when the Pokes might not be playing their best softball.
Oklahoma State's early ability to win games, despite not putting in peak performances on the dirt, could be a good sign for the coming months. The team's ability to build the drama by starting slow and finishing strong could be an overarching theme of 2019, as the Cowgirls look to build toward playing their very best softball during conference and postseason play.
Second Base: A Sue-per Finish
Oklahoma State senior Madi Sue Montgomery got off to a slow start this past weekend in the Sunshine State, going 0-for-10 at the plate and reaching base safely only once during the Cowgirls' first three outings of the Elite Invitational. That trend continued in the first part of OSU's come-from-behind victory over California, but Montgomery put a quick end to it with a game-tying solo home to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning.
It was Montgomery's first home run of the season and snapped an 11-game homerless streak that dated back to the start of last season's NCAA Fayetteville Regional.
The left-handed hitter continued to hit ball hard in the second half of the Saturday doubleheader, as she went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a season-high three runs batted in. It was Montgomery's second multi-hit game of the season, and her performance Saturday resonated with coach Kenny Gajewski, who said that her strong finish to the Elite Invitational could potentially spark the three-time All-Big 12 performer moving forward as she, like the rest of her Oklahoma State teammates, looks to round into top form as the season progresses.
Third Base: Slicin' and Dicin'
Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski has talked about the depth of this year's pitching staff, as well as the importance of having that depth as the season wears on. At the front of OSU's rotation so far this year has been an intriguing 1-2 punch that will be vital to the Cowgirls' success in 2019.
Samantha Show and Logan Simunek make up this dynamic tandem, with both bringing a different, yet incredibly effective, skillset to the table for Gajewski and staff.
The two combined to throw 23 of Oklahoma State's 34 innings this past weekend, with both making three appearances at the Elite Invitational. Show started twice and led the Cowgirls with 13 innings pitched and eight strikes, while Simunek started once and struck out seven in 10 innings of work.
Show and Simunek each had a starring performance in the circle this past weekend.
Show retired the final 14 batters she faced in a one-run, complete-game effort against California on Feb. 16. Simunek, meanwhile, allowed just one run on three hits in a 5.1-inning day against Utah on Feb. 15, while also earning her fifth career save with a two-inning showing against Hofstra in OSU's Florida finale.
The pair, along with the other three arms in the Cowgirl bullpen, will be instrumental in Oklahoma State's success moving forward this season.
Home Plate: Running The Gauntlet
OSU head coach Kenny Gajewski has made it a point to push his players past their limits to improve and prepare for postseason play. One of the ways he has achieved that feat is by consistently putting the Cowgirls up against the best teams in the country.
In Oklahoma State's 10 games this season, the Cowgirls have faced seven teams that were either ranked or were receiving votes in at least one of the national polls. That group was highlighted by a pair of contests against No. 13 Kentucky and No. 8 LSU.
This week, the non-conference gauntlet continues for the Cowgirls, as they head west to compete at the 2019 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, which boasts arguably the most impressive field of any early-season tournament in the country.
While in Cathedral City, California, the Cowgirls will face two of the Pac-12's powerhouse programs in Arizona and Arizona State, with three other competitive matchups against Colorado State, North Carolina and San Diego State rounding out the five-game slate that awaits OSU out west.
Three of the teams on the Cowgirls' schedule for the upcoming weekend are currently either ranked or receiving votes. If those teams hold steady or move up in the rankings this week, it would mean that OSU will have faced 10 teams that were either ranked or receiving votes during its first 15 games of the 2019 season.
The old adage says that to be the best, you've got to beat the best, but only time will tell just how beneficial this early-season gauntlet is to the Cowgirls as they move toward Big 12 and postseason play.
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