Oklahoma State University Athletics
Honoring Our WCWS Heritage - 1990
May 31, 2020 | Cowgirl Softball
A year removed from its best finish in school history, the Oklahoma State softball team returned to the NCAA Women's College World series for a second-straight year. The Cowgirls swept the Big Eight tournament to remain Big Eight champions, and they once again swept the Stillwater Regional to advance to the WCWS. This time, it would be a little closer to home, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Game one put the Cowgirls head-to-head with a familiar opponent in Arizona, whom they defeated the previous year in the second game of the WCWS. This time, there was a similar outcome. The Cowgirls scored one run in the top of the second when Shawn Gilbert scored on a Shannon Kimberling single up the middle. The Cowgirls added a run in the top of the third and again in the top of the seventh to defeat Arizona, 3-0. Starting pitcher Dena Carter went seven innings, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out one.Â
Game two came a day later against Florida State. As in typical Cowgirl fashion, defense and pitching continued to be OSU's specialty, leading to a 4-1 victory. The Cowgirls held FSU to one run on four hits through seven innings. Meanwhile, OSU scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth on a single by Carter and an error by the catcher.
Their fourth run came in the bottom of the sixth when Donna Forman doubled to left field, allowing Christi Smith to score from third. Starting pitcher Melanie Roche threw a complete game, allowing one run on four hits and striking out nine batters.Â
Game three would bring the Cowgirls up against the eventual champions UCLA the following afternoon. The Bruins scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning when with the bases loaded and one out, LeeAnne Ketcham committed an error at shortstop, allowing two runs to score.
Dena Carter started in the circle for OSU and despite not allowing an earned run on four hits, took the loss. The Cowgirls could only muster up one run of support. The lone run came in the top of the seventh when Roche, pinch running for Carter who had drawn a walk, advanced to third on a double by Linda Sodano. With one out, Kimberling singled down the right field line, scoring Roche, but pinch runner Dani Pfeiffer was thrown out at the plate attempting to score. Donna Forman lined out for the final out of the game and a 2-1 Cowgirl loss.Â
The next afternoon, it was another pitcher's duel as Carter and Fresno State's Marcie Green each threw a shutout through nine innings. A thunderstorm delayed the game, which was resumed the next afternoon. FSU's Carie Dever walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third on a single. On the next at-bat, the Cowgirls attempted to prevent the run from scoring on a fielder's choice, but Kimberling dropped the ball, scoring the only run of the game.
While the Cowgirls didn't get the national championship that they desired, their second-straight third-place finish boosted the program and got them ready for more WCWS appearances and success in the future.Â
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Game one put the Cowgirls head-to-head with a familiar opponent in Arizona, whom they defeated the previous year in the second game of the WCWS. This time, there was a similar outcome. The Cowgirls scored one run in the top of the second when Shawn Gilbert scored on a Shannon Kimberling single up the middle. The Cowgirls added a run in the top of the third and again in the top of the seventh to defeat Arizona, 3-0. Starting pitcher Dena Carter went seven innings, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out one.Â
Game two came a day later against Florida State. As in typical Cowgirl fashion, defense and pitching continued to be OSU's specialty, leading to a 4-1 victory. The Cowgirls held FSU to one run on four hits through seven innings. Meanwhile, OSU scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth on a single by Carter and an error by the catcher.
Their fourth run came in the bottom of the sixth when Donna Forman doubled to left field, allowing Christi Smith to score from third. Starting pitcher Melanie Roche threw a complete game, allowing one run on four hits and striking out nine batters.Â
Game three would bring the Cowgirls up against the eventual champions UCLA the following afternoon. The Bruins scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning when with the bases loaded and one out, LeeAnne Ketcham committed an error at shortstop, allowing two runs to score.
Dena Carter started in the circle for OSU and despite not allowing an earned run on four hits, took the loss. The Cowgirls could only muster up one run of support. The lone run came in the top of the seventh when Roche, pinch running for Carter who had drawn a walk, advanced to third on a double by Linda Sodano. With one out, Kimberling singled down the right field line, scoring Roche, but pinch runner Dani Pfeiffer was thrown out at the plate attempting to score. Donna Forman lined out for the final out of the game and a 2-1 Cowgirl loss.Â
The next afternoon, it was another pitcher's duel as Carter and Fresno State's Marcie Green each threw a shutout through nine innings. A thunderstorm delayed the game, which was resumed the next afternoon. FSU's Carie Dever walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third on a single. On the next at-bat, the Cowgirls attempted to prevent the run from scoring on a fielder's choice, but Kimberling dropped the ball, scoring the only run of the game.
While the Cowgirls didn't get the national championship that they desired, their second-straight third-place finish boosted the program and got them ready for more WCWS appearances and success in the future.Â
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