Cowgirl Softball Upsets No. 1 Georgia

OSU pulls off 1-0 victory against the Bulldogs to go with 9-1 run-rule of UC-Santa Barbara on the day.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:13 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Feb 24, 2011 9:26 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – It’s still early in the season, but the Cowgirls are making a major statement.

Oklahoma State upset No. 1 Georgia 1-0 on Saturday at the first day of the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs.

Sophomore pitcher Kat Espinosa was the driving force behind the huge victory, throwing a three-hit, complete game shutout.

The Cowgirls (10-2) and Bulldogs (10-1) remained scoreless through the first five innings.

In the bottom of the fifth, senior Mariah Gearhart was hit by a pitch to take first. Ari Morrison used a sacrifice bunt to advance Gearhart to second, and then Alysia Hamilton drove her home from second for the only run of the game.

Espinosa moved to 5-0 on the young season while striking out four and giving up three hits.

In the first game of the day, OSU run-ruled UC-Santa Barbara 9-1 in five innings.

Oklahoma State led off that game as well with a score from Mariah Gearhart, again being driven in by Hamilton.

Chelsea Garcia came up huge for the Cowgirls in the third inning and added yet another RBI in the fourth.

Hamilton kept her stats going in the fifth inning with a single to drive in Amy Graham. Julie Ward followed it up with a two-RBI single to put the Cowgirls over the run-rule limit and end the game.

Freshman pitcher Simone Freeman picked up the win for Oklahoma State against the Gauchos and improved to 4-2 on the year. She gave up two hits and one earned run while striking out eight batters.

Garcia had five RBIs against the Gauchos and Alysia Hamilton had a huge day, going 5-for-6 with three RBIs and a run in the two games.

OSU will look to keep the wins rolling as it faces Fresno State at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.