Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Set to Host Mizuno Classic
March 17, 2021 | Cowgirl Softball
Game Notes (PDF)
The Basics
The No. 8/6 Oklahoma State softball team (20-2 overall) hosts the Mizuno Classic this weekend at Cowgirl Stadium.
OSU will play Wichita State on Thursday, March 18 before a Friday doubleheader featuring UTSA and UMKC. The Cowgirls close out the weekend with a Saturday doubleheader against Wichita State and UMKC.
Watch, Listen, Follow
All of this week's Oklahoma State softball games will be on ESPN+. The games will also be the radio at KGFY 105.5 FM.
Fans can also follow live stats at okstate.statbroadcast.com.
In the Rankings
Oklahoma State is ranked No. 8 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the ESPN.com/ USA Softball Top 25. At 20-2, the Cowgirls have steadily been in the top 10 of both polls since the beginning of the season when they received their first top 10 preseason ranking since 1994.
OSU's opponents this weekend do not appear in the polls.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Twenty-two games into the 2021 season, Oklahoma State appears to be as advertised. The Cowgirls are 20-2 on the year and extended their home winning streak to 21 games, dating back to last season. The Cowgirls suffered their second loss of the year against Houston last weekend in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma State looks to bounce back with six consecutive home games before beginning conference play next weekend at Kansas.
In the circle, OSU has found some depth to back up their outstanding 1-2 punch of Carrie Eberle and Kelly Maxwell. In 18 games, seven different Cowgirls have logged innings in the circle, compared to just three in 24 games last season. Logan Simunek (3-1, 2.29 ERA) continues to be the go-to starter behind the duo of Eberle and Maxwell. Simunek earned her fourth start of the year last weekend against Liberty, in which she pitched a five-hit complete game shutout.
On offense, Oklahoma State is led by returning All-American Alysen Febrey, who is hitting .464 with a team-high seven home runs. Chyenne Factor and Chelsea Alexander join Febrey in batting over .400. Four Cowgirl starters are bat over .340 for the year, and as a team, OSU is hitting .329. The Cowgirls rank in the top 25 nationally in batting average, doubles, stolen bases, and winning percentage.
Notable Streaks and Trends
? At 20-2, the Cowgirls are off to their best start since a 24-1 start to the 1989 WCWS season.
? The Cowgirls have won 32 of their last 34 games, dating back to last season.
? Dating back to April 10, 2018, the Cowgirls have won 30 consecutive home games played against unranked opponents.
? Dating back to April 3, 2019, the Cowgirls are 42-2 in all games played against unranked opponents.
? The Cowgirls have won four of five against ranked opponents this season and dating back to last season, have won seven of their last nine against ranked opponents.
? Oklahoma State has hit at least one home run in six of its last seven games.
? OSU has thrown out each of the last three runners who attempted to steal a base.
? Kiley Naomi has been successful on 35 of her last 36 stolen base attempts and is second in the Big 12 with 10 stolen bases this season.
? Sydney Pennington has started 169 consecutive games, which amounts to every possible game of her career.
? OSU has won 21 straight at Cowgirl Stadium dating back to the 2019 season.
? The Cowgirls are tied for second in the nation with 10 shutouts.
? The Cowgirls have stolen 36 bases this season, which is tied for 19th in the NCAA. .
? Carrie Eberle leads the Big 12 and is tied for second in the nation with four shutouts this season.
? Eberle and Maxwell are tied for second in the Big 12 with seven wins each.
? The Cowgirls have been ranked in the NFCA poll in each of their last 108 games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
? The Cowgirls are outscoring opponents, 144-41, in 2021.
? Alysen Febrey has recorded a team-leading 12 multiple hit games and nine multiple RBI games.
Series History vs. This Week's Opponents
Oklahoma State and Wichita State are familiar foes, with OSU leading the overall series, 82-12. In Stillwater, the Cowgirls lead the Shockers, 35-4. In their last meeting which took place last season, OSU won, 5-0.
OSU holds an 11-0 series record against UTSA, with three of the victories coming in Stillwater. The last time the two teams met was in 2014, with OSU taking home an 8-0 victory.
The Cowgirls and Kansas City have met nine times and OSU has won all nine contests. Their last meeting came in 2015, when OSU was an 11-7 winner. Kenny Gajewski has never met UTSA or UMKC.
