Cowgirls Get Shutout in Opener

Oklahoma State softball opened up their final three game home series of the season against Big 12 foe Texas on Friday night, and right from the start Texas showed that they came to play.

After recording the first two outs of the first inning on ground balls, Oklahoma State pitcher Brandi Needham was taken deep by Lindsey Stephens on a ball that just cleared the left field fence and narrowly missed the foul pole. After taking a pitch, Randel Leahy blasted one over the left field fence for a quick 2-0 lead in the first for the Longhorns.

Offensively, the Cowgirls could not get anything going. The Pokes were completely shut down by Freshman pitcher Erica Wright. Wright struck out three batters in the first, working around two walks in the process. Wright had great movement on her pitches, using her fastball to blow past the OSU hitters' all night long. Among her victims were left fielder Maddi Holcomb, who struck out in both of her two at bats on the evening.

The only Cowgirl with a base hit was Freshman Jessi Haffner, who hit a weak ground ball that snuck through the middle into center field in the second inning. That was the lone base hit for Oklahoma State, and although they drew four walks on the night they never were able to move a runner past second base. Erica Wright garnered her 15th win of the season, throwing a complete game shutout tallying nine strikeouts.

The Longhorns bats were out in full force, as they scored 11 runs on 11 hits with three home runs. In the fifth inning Peyton Walker came in to relieve starting pitcher Brandi Needham trailing 6-0, and with runners on second and third with 1 out, down 7-0, a ball was hit right back to Walker. Peyton looked the runner back to third base, turned to first, and saw nobody covering the base. That loaded the bases, and 2 batters later, second baseman Stephanie Ceo put the run-rule into effect as she hit a grand slam to left center field. The Cowgirls failed to score in the bottom half, ending the game.

OSU has 3 more home games in Big 12 play, and shockingly they are still looking for their FIRST Big 12 win at home, now standing at 0-8 for the season in Stillwater. They will look to get that first win on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm in their annual "Pink Game" supporting breast cancer awareness, in which they encourage all fans to wear pink. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive free pink socks, and there will be a silent auction during the game raising money for Coaches vs Cancer. Please come and support the Pokes and this great cause on Saturday afternoon!