Oklahoma State University Athletics
Saturday, March 12
Stillwater, Okla.
7:00 PM
Oklahoma State University
6
vs
0
Northern Colorado
Cowgirl Softball Wins Two
March 12, 2011 | Cowgirl Softball
March 12, 2011
Final Stats vs Northern Colorado (Game 1)
Final Stats vs Northern Colorado (Game 2)
Stillwater, Okla. -- Julie Ward tied the Oklahoma State record for career home runs and OSU's 20th-ranked Cowgirl softball team extended its winning streak to six games with a pair victories over Northern Colorado here Saturday afternoon at the Mizuno Classic. OSU defeated the Bears 8-0 in five innings in the first game and 6-0 in the nightcap.
Ward got OSU on the scoreboard with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second, her sixth of the season and the 26th of her career, tying Ryan Realmuto for the second-most career homers in school history. She hit her record-matching bomb in the bottom of the first of the second contest, giving the Cowgirls a 3-0 lead. The school record for career home runs was set by Jaime Foutch in 1999 and tied by Kim Kaye in 2008. Ward is not even midway through her junior season.
In the first game, freshman hurler Morgan Hawkins threw a two-hit shutout in five innings, striking out three Bears in the process. She faced just one batter over the minimum with 16 UNCO batters coming to the plate.
The Cowgirl bats were much more effective, scoring eight runs on nine hits while drawing six walks. Nine different players had a hit, including pinch hitter Aaron Adams, who hit the first triple by a Cowgirl this season in the fifth inning.
After Ward's home run in game one, the Cowgirls exploded for four more runs in the third on back-to-back two-RBI singles by Sammy Jo Diffendaffer and Tarah Ettinger. They added a run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Alysia Hamilton and two more in the fifth on Adams' triple and a sacrifice fly by Gearhart, scoring Adams.
Game two featured another fine performance by the Cowgirl pitching staff. Senior Sarah Odom started the contest and allowed just one hit in four innings while walking one and striking out five. Sophomore Kat Espinosa came on in relief in the fifth inning and allowed just one hit in three innings while striking out six and picking up her second save of the season.
Gearhart led off the Cowgirl half of the first with a bunt single. After stealing second, her 99th career stolen base, Gearhart later scored on a base hit up the middle by Hamilton. Then came Ward's record-tying home run to make the score 3-0.
Gearhart, the Cowgirl leadoff hitter, scored her 161st career run in the fourth, one shy of the school record of 162 established by Shanel Scott. The fourth inning featured three walks and and two hits resulting in three OSU runs.
Oklahoma State (20-5) will face Minnesota (13-10) in the championship game on Sunday at 11 am. Northern Iowa (11-8) and Northern Colorado (1-17) will play in the consolation game at 9 am.
Mizuno Classic
Saturday's Results
Northern Iowa 5, Minnesota 2
Oklahoma State 8, Northern Colorado 0
Minnesota 1, Northern Iowa 0
Oklahoma State 6, Northern Colorado 0
Sunday's Schedule
Consolation Game (9 am) - Northern Iowa vs Northern Colorado
Championship Game (11 am) - Oklahoma State vs Minnesota
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Cowgirl Softball
OF
/ Cowgirl Softball
RHP
/ Cowgirl Softball
C
/ Cowgirl Softball
IF
/ Cowgirl Softball
RHP
/ Cowgirl Softball
LHP
/ Cowgirl Softball
1B
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