April 15, 2008
After sweeping its fifth consecutive conference series last weekend, the fifth-ranked Texas A&M softball team (39-6, 11-0 Big 12) heads to Stillwater, Okla. for a mid-week doubleheader against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (21-19, 4-4 Big 12). First pitch of game one is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Cowgirl Stadium.
?This game is going to be intense, as they all are,? A&M head coach Jo Evans said. ?Oklahoma State is getting on a roll and I?â„¢m happy for Rich (Wieligman) and his staff. They are doing a nice job. Our kids need to go in their focused and take care of business. I have confidence in our players that we?â„¢ll go out there and play our best.?
Fans can listen to the first game free of charge on AggieAthletics.com through Aggies All-Access. The second game of the doubleheader will be broadcast on 1150 AM The Zone with play-by-play from Louie Belina and color commentary from Clint Netherland.
Oklahoma State enters Wednesday?â„¢s match-up at an even 4-4 in league play after its weekend split with Iowa State. The Cowgirls run-ruled ISU, 9-1, on Saturday before dropping a 1-4 decision to the Cyclones on Sunday.
Alysia Hamilton was 4-for-7 (.571) on the weekend driving in three RBIs. The freshman leads the team at the plate hitting .379 for the season. Hamilton has scored 27 runs and driven in 25 RBIs off 44 hits, including seven doubles, a triple and three homeruns.
In the circle for OSU, Anna Whiddon carries an 8-5 record and a 1.56 ERA. The sophomore has tossed seven complete games, striking out 89 hitters through 103.1 innings of work.
The Aggies remained perfect in conference play after sweeping their two-game series with seventh-ranked Oklahoma over the weekend, posting 4-2 and 1-0 victories over the Sooners.
Jami Lobpries was 3-for-6 (.500) in the series. The senior was responsible for the game-winning RBI double in both games.
Megan Gibson tossed 14 complete innings, recording her 24th and 25th consecutive victories. The two-time All-American struckout 18 Sooner hitters on the weekend and registered her 11th shutout of the season on Sunday.
The Spring, Texas native leads the conference in wins (25), walks (39), doubles (12), shutouts (11), innings pitched (171) and complete games (24)?...She ranks second in strikeouts (192) and opponents batting average (.166).
A&M leads the all-time series at 34-19. The Aggies swept the series last season winning, 2-1 and 4-0 in College Station, marking their fourth consecutive two-game series sweep over the Cowgirls.
The last time the two teams split a two-game series was in 2002 with Oklahoma State winning the first game 3-2 and A&M taking the second 2-1.
In 2004 the Aggies were scheduled to play a doubleheader in Stillwater but severe weather resulted in suspension of play during the third inning. A&M won the first game 3-2.
A&M will find a familiar face as it faces off opposite former assistant coach Rich Wieligman. After serving four years as the hitting coordinator under Jo Evans at Texas A&M, Wieligman accepted the head coaching position at Oklahoma State in the summer of 2006.
Game two of the twinbill is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.