Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bases Loaded: Cowgirls Off to Best Start Since 2014
February 25, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER - The No. 20 Oklahoma State softball team is coming off a 3-2 weekend against the stacked field at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, leaving the Cowgirls with a 10-5 mark through three weeks of the 2019 season.
OSU's 10 victories thus far marks the best 15-game start for a Cowgirl squad since the 2014 team posted the same mark through its first three weeks. With that in mind, we take a look back at the weekend that was, and what lies ahead, for a promising group of Pokes.
First Base: Montgomery Crowned as Oklahoma State RBI Queen
Madi Sue Montgomery has been the stalwart in the OSU lineup throughout her three-plus years in Stillwater, and now the Cowgirl record books are slowly being overtaken by her name throughout. One of those records that has long been within Montgomery's grasp was the program's all-time runs batted in record.
As a freshman, Montgomery drove in 58 runs, good for the third-best single-season total in team history. She led the Big 12 up until the final week of the regular season that year, and it was merely a sign of things to come for the Cowgirls.
The left-handed hitter racked up 68 more RBI last season, and this past weekend in California, she finally cemented her place at the top of the Cowgirl mountain with an eight-RBI day against San Diego State on Feb. 22. Montgomery's explosive day came thanks to a three-run double, two-run home run and a walk-off three run home run against the Aztecs.
The eight runs batted in tied her with Kristin Reasnor and Julie Ward for the program's single-game record, and the dynamic day at the plate pushed her past Tiffany Mikkelson and into the top spot of OSU's career RBI list.
Montgomery's career record was just the first of many she has a chance to set during her senior season. And with three-quarters of the year remaining, she has a chance to cement herself at the top of the runs batted in list for years to come.
Second Base: Show Shouldering the Load
Samantha Show has wasted no time in making herself an integral part of the Cowgirls' success, particularly against the toughest competition.
Show has started in the circle for all four of Oklahoma State's matchups against top-15 teams this year, pitching 24.1 of 28 possible innings in those outings. That includes back-to-back complete games against No. 13 Arizona State and No. 14 Arizona this past weekend at the Nutter Classic.
The senior transfer currently has a team-best 2.28 earned run average in a team-high 40.0 innings pitched, while also leading the Cowgirls in strikeouts (27) and wins (3). Logan Simunek and Gabby Sprang have both also earned three victories in the circle this year.
Show has also been a driving force for the offense at the plate, with her 36 total bases, 16 hits, five doubles and five home runs all being the top mark among OSU batters this season. The Cowgirl captain also ranks second on the team with a .320 batting average and 14 runs batted in.
With Show, Oklahoma State has a dynamic presence on both sides of the ball to use against one of the nation's most daunting schedules.
Third Base: Developing on the Dirt
The biggest obstacle that has stopped Oklahoma State in its tracks thus far this season can only be seen when looking in the mirror. OSU's locker room features a message in that mirror that says your only competition is yourself, and, at times, the Cowgirls have been their own worst enemy in 2019.
In particular, OSU's struggles defensively have prevented the Cowgirls from finding even more success in the early goings of the 2019 season.
This past weekend, that was evident when a trio of errors in the second inning against No. 14 Arizona allowed the Wildcats to grab hold of the game. That second inning was an exaggerated version of how the little things - such as hitting the cut-off, getting the lead out, taking an extra base when possible and so forth - make all the difference in the game of softball.
The Oklahoma State coaching staff and players are all too aware of the issue, and it's something that will be pressed heavily in practice throughout the week. Coach Kenny Gajewski has previously said he felt that the team's defensive struggles might simply be due to a lack of time out on the dirt in preseason, as a frigid Stillwater winter, and added emphasis on the team's offense against elite pitching, limited how often the Pokes could lace up their cleats and work in the field.
The quick turnaround for travel during the first three weeks of the season also put a strain on how much time OSU was able to get out into the field. But with a full week at Cowgirl Stadium on the docket this week, things could turn around quickly, helping take OSU's success to the next level.
There are no excuses coming out of the Cowgirl camp, however. They are prepared to put in the work necessary to meet the OSU softball standard, and then continue to raise the bar as the program continues its reemergence under Gajewski and staff.
Home Plate: The 20th Season of Cowgirl Stadium
Friday's home opener marks a special occasion for those in and around the Oklahoma State softball program, as it will be the start of the 20th season of play at Cowgirl Stadium.
The stadium that sits at the corner of Duck and McElroy was built at a cost of approximately $2 million on the same site as Cowgirl field, the former home of the Pokes for more than 20 years. It has been a fixture of the program's success in the 19 seasons since its opening, and it figures to continue as such in the years that come.
Cowgirl Stadium was opened April 5, 2000, against Bedlam-rival Oklahoma in front of a then-record crowd of 750 as Lauren Bay threw the first pitch at the new facility. Bay, a two-time Olympian with the Canadian national team, was one of several historic performers to showcase their talents on the Cowgirls' home dirt.
Other notable figures include 2007 All-American Courtney Totte, Jessica Hoppock, Shanel Scott, Julie Ward, the 2011 Women's College World Series team - which featured players such as Mariah Gearhart and Kat Espinosa - Tiffany Mikkelson and three-time All-American Vanessa Shippy. All of those players helped continue to build the program after the immense success of those that came before, like Michele Smith, Melanie Roche and Jaime Foutch.
Shippy, in particular, had a large role in the resurgence of the program, with her contributions on and off the field during Kenny Gajewski's first three years as head coach.
Coincidentally, the second half of Friday's doubleheader will see Shippy return to the field on which she set so many records, as she returns to Stillwater as an assistant coach with the Syracuse softball squad.
Shippy will not be the only alumni in attendance this weekend, and all of those, both in the stands and watching at home, have been an integral part of the program's success throughout the years. The 20th season of Cowgirl Stadium, and the stadium itself, would not have been possible without the work put in by all those that came before the stadium was built, nor those that competed on its dirt.
OSU's 10 victories thus far marks the best 15-game start for a Cowgirl squad since the 2014 team posted the same mark through its first three weeks. With that in mind, we take a look back at the weekend that was, and what lies ahead, for a promising group of Pokes.
First Base: Montgomery Crowned as Oklahoma State RBI Queen
Madi Sue Montgomery has been the stalwart in the OSU lineup throughout her three-plus years in Stillwater, and now the Cowgirl record books are slowly being overtaken by her name throughout. One of those records that has long been within Montgomery's grasp was the program's all-time runs batted in record.
As a freshman, Montgomery drove in 58 runs, good for the third-best single-season total in team history. She led the Big 12 up until the final week of the regular season that year, and it was merely a sign of things to come for the Cowgirls.
The left-handed hitter racked up 68 more RBI last season, and this past weekend in California, she finally cemented her place at the top of the Cowgirl mountain with an eight-RBI day against San Diego State on Feb. 22. Montgomery's explosive day came thanks to a three-run double, two-run home run and a walk-off three run home run against the Aztecs.
The eight runs batted in tied her with Kristin Reasnor and Julie Ward for the program's single-game record, and the dynamic day at the plate pushed her past Tiffany Mikkelson and into the top spot of OSU's career RBI list.
Montgomery's career record was just the first of many she has a chance to set during her senior season. And with three-quarters of the year remaining, she has a chance to cement herself at the top of the runs batted in list for years to come.
Second Base: Show Shouldering the Load
Samantha Show has wasted no time in making herself an integral part of the Cowgirls' success, particularly against the toughest competition.
Show has started in the circle for all four of Oklahoma State's matchups against top-15 teams this year, pitching 24.1 of 28 possible innings in those outings. That includes back-to-back complete games against No. 13 Arizona State and No. 14 Arizona this past weekend at the Nutter Classic.
The senior transfer currently has a team-best 2.28 earned run average in a team-high 40.0 innings pitched, while also leading the Cowgirls in strikeouts (27) and wins (3). Logan Simunek and Gabby Sprang have both also earned three victories in the circle this year.
Show has also been a driving force for the offense at the plate, with her 36 total bases, 16 hits, five doubles and five home runs all being the top mark among OSU batters this season. The Cowgirl captain also ranks second on the team with a .320 batting average and 14 runs batted in.
With Show, Oklahoma State has a dynamic presence on both sides of the ball to use against one of the nation's most daunting schedules.
Third Base: Developing on the Dirt
The biggest obstacle that has stopped Oklahoma State in its tracks thus far this season can only be seen when looking in the mirror. OSU's locker room features a message in that mirror that says your only competition is yourself, and, at times, the Cowgirls have been their own worst enemy in 2019.
In particular, OSU's struggles defensively have prevented the Cowgirls from finding even more success in the early goings of the 2019 season.
This past weekend, that was evident when a trio of errors in the second inning against No. 14 Arizona allowed the Wildcats to grab hold of the game. That second inning was an exaggerated version of how the little things - such as hitting the cut-off, getting the lead out, taking an extra base when possible and so forth - make all the difference in the game of softball.
The Oklahoma State coaching staff and players are all too aware of the issue, and it's something that will be pressed heavily in practice throughout the week. Coach Kenny Gajewski has previously said he felt that the team's defensive struggles might simply be due to a lack of time out on the dirt in preseason, as a frigid Stillwater winter, and added emphasis on the team's offense against elite pitching, limited how often the Pokes could lace up their cleats and work in the field.
The quick turnaround for travel during the first three weeks of the season also put a strain on how much time OSU was able to get out into the field. But with a full week at Cowgirl Stadium on the docket this week, things could turn around quickly, helping take OSU's success to the next level.
There are no excuses coming out of the Cowgirl camp, however. They are prepared to put in the work necessary to meet the OSU softball standard, and then continue to raise the bar as the program continues its reemergence under Gajewski and staff.
Home Plate: The 20th Season of Cowgirl Stadium
Friday's home opener marks a special occasion for those in and around the Oklahoma State softball program, as it will be the start of the 20th season of play at Cowgirl Stadium.
The stadium that sits at the corner of Duck and McElroy was built at a cost of approximately $2 million on the same site as Cowgirl field, the former home of the Pokes for more than 20 years. It has been a fixture of the program's success in the 19 seasons since its opening, and it figures to continue as such in the years that come.
Cowgirl Stadium was opened April 5, 2000, against Bedlam-rival Oklahoma in front of a then-record crowd of 750 as Lauren Bay threw the first pitch at the new facility. Bay, a two-time Olympian with the Canadian national team, was one of several historic performers to showcase their talents on the Cowgirls' home dirt.
Other notable figures include 2007 All-American Courtney Totte, Jessica Hoppock, Shanel Scott, Julie Ward, the 2011 Women's College World Series team - which featured players such as Mariah Gearhart and Kat Espinosa - Tiffany Mikkelson and three-time All-American Vanessa Shippy. All of those players helped continue to build the program after the immense success of those that came before, like Michele Smith, Melanie Roche and Jaime Foutch.
Shippy, in particular, had a large role in the resurgence of the program, with her contributions on and off the field during Kenny Gajewski's first three years as head coach.
Coincidentally, the second half of Friday's doubleheader will see Shippy return to the field on which she set so many records, as she returns to Stillwater as an assistant coach with the Syracuse softball squad.
Shippy will not be the only alumni in attendance this weekend, and all of those, both in the stands and watching at home, have been an integral part of the program's success throughout the years. The 20th season of Cowgirl Stadium, and the stadium itself, would not have been possible without the work put in by all those that came before the stadium was built, nor those that competed on its dirt.
Players Mentioned
3B
/ Cowgirl Softball
1B/DP
/ Cowgirl Softball
UTL
/ Cowgirl SoftballFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
