Cowgirls Take Care Of Business Against Central Arkansas

The Oklahoma State softball team defeated Central Arkansas, 12-8, Wednesday night at Cowgirl Stadium.

After an hour and 15 minute rain delay to begin the game, Central Arkansas (14-21) scored first in the top of the first inning when Sam Forrest scored from first on an error by the shortstop to put the Bears up 1-0.

It did not take long for the Cowgirls (19-11) to get on the board. In the bottom of the third inning, Tarah Ettinger hit her fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to leftfield. Later in the inning, Whitney Whitehorn singled in Tiffany Mikkelson to give OSU a 3-1 lead.

The Bears reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth when Forrest hit a grand slam to left field to put UCA up 5-3.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Mikkelson doubled to leftfield, scoring Ari Morrison from second. Three batters later, Whitehorn scored when the right fielder dropped a fly ball, scoring Mikkelson, Ettinger and Danielle Riddle to give the Cowgirls a 7-5 advantage. OSU added three more in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mikkelson hit her second double of the night to leftfield, scoring Morrison and Shelby Davis. Riddle followed that with a double of her to right center, scoring Mikkelson to extend the Cowgirl lead to 10-5.

Central Arkansas scored three runs in the top of the sixth when Forrest hit her second home run of the night, a two-run shot to right center. Later in the inning, Hayley Parker doubled, scoring Briana Whisenhunt, to cut the Cowgirl lead to 10-8.

In the bottom half of the frame, OSU scored two runs, starting when Madison Ellis had a sacrifice hit, scoring Shannon Kaufman from third. Davis followed with a single up the middle, scoring Shianne Hughes and giving the Cowgirls the 12-8 victory.

Simone Freeman (14-6) started in the circle for OSU and pitched four innings, allowing five runs on just two hits while striking out six. Freshman Meagan Lively entered the game in the top of the fifth and pitched three innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out four in earning her second save of the season.

Offensively, the Cowgirls pounded out 15 hits. Mikkelson went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in, three runs scored and two doubles. Morrison was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and Davis was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Ettinger was 2-for 5 with the home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Riddle and Whitehorn both had two hits, a double and an RBI.

The Cowgirls return to action this weekend when they open Big 12 Conference play against Kansas, opening a three-game series Friday evening at 5 pm at Arrocha Ballpark.