Cowgirls Grab Two Wins in USF Tournament

Originally Published: Mar 20, 2010 5:32 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TAMPA, Florida -- Oklahoma State grabbed two wins in the USF – The Game Tournament, 6-2 over the University of Florida, Gulf Coast and 8-0 against South Florida on two dominant pitching performances.

Cowgirls’ pitcher Anna Whiddon shut down the Eagles for most of the first game. She pitched all seven innings, only gave up two earned runs and struck out 14 of the 32 batters she faced. Her two earned runs came on a Tiffani Upchurch two-run RBI double in the fourth.

OSU scored four of its six runs in the fifth inning, playing small ball to put two runners on base with bunts. Katelyn Bright came up to bat and hit a single up the right side to bring home Chelsea Garcia. On the next at bat Alysia Hamilton singled to the right again and advanced to second on the throw bringing home Kelsey Anchors and Garcia.

Two batters later, Tamara Brown singled to left center to bring Bright home and extend the lead to 6-2.

In the second game, Kat Espinosa delivered a two-hit, six inning complete game shutout to drop the Bulls. She retired nine straight batters and didn’t give up her first hit until the fifth inning.

Oklahoma State got on the board in the first when Bright scored on a throwing error by USF’s left fielder. The Cowgirls added three in the second inning; two unearned and one on a Julie Ward single to bring Bright home.

OSU added two in the fourth and two in the sixth before the game was called in the bottom of the sixth.

The Cowgirls have one more game in the USF – The Game Tournament, a Sunday night matchup with Illinois.