Cowgirls Sweep Lobos In Friday Doubleheader

Behind strong pitching and powerful bats, the Oklahoma State softball team defeated New Mexico (14-20) in both games of a double header Friday. The Cowgirls (21-13) won the first game 11-0 in five innings and the second game 6-1.

The Cowgirls jumped on board right away in the first inning when senior Samantha Chrisman hit a three-run home run to score juniors Shannon Kaufman and Tarah Ettinger. The next batter, freshman Tiffany Mikkelson homered to right center and later in the innings, sophomore Gessenia DeLaCruz scored on a base hit by senior Amy Graham to put the Cowgirls up 5-0.

OSU added two more in the top of the fourth inning when senior Tamara Brown scored on a sacrifice fly by Ettinger. The next batter, Chrisman doubled down the leftfield line scoring Kaufman to put OSU up 6-0.

The Cowgirls ended the game in the fifth inning when Shelby Davis scored on a single by Erika Campbell. A few batters later, Chrisman singled in Kaufman and Brown. Ettinger would then score on a base hit by Mikkelson to give OSU the 11-0 lead. The Cowgirls would win game one by that score.

Offensively for the Cowgirls in game one, Chrisman was 4-for-4 with a home run, double and six RBIs. Kaufman was 3-for-3 and Mikkelson was 2-for-3 with a home run. All together OSU had 14 hits.

Starter senior Kat Espinosa (12-6) didn't allow a run on one hit in five innings. She also struck out seven batters.

The Cowgirls picked up right where they left off in game two. They jumped on board in the bottom of the first inning when Brown scored after Chrisman reached on a fielder's choice. A batter later, Mikkelson singled to right field, scoring Davis from third to give OSU an early 2-0 lead.

OSU added one run on both the second and third innings on base hits by Ettinger and sophomore Taylor Woodall to put them up 4-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Cowgirls went up 6-0 when Ettinger led off with a home run to right field and later in the inning, Chrisman scored on an illegal pitch.

The Lobos put a run on the board in the top of the fifth when Amber Tracy scored on an error. However, that was all the offense New Mexico would get and the Cowgirls would win game two 6-1.

At the plate, Brown went 2-for-3 and Ettinger also went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Mikkelson was 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Junior Simone Freeman (9-7) picked up the win, throwing seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out six.

The Cowgirls return to the field tomorrow afternoon when they take on Siena (5-8) at 1:00 p.m. CT at Lobos Softball Field.