Spring Break
Softball focuses on offense in game against Oklahoma State
By: T.D. Durham
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Sports
The No. 24 Texas A&M softball team looks to break its four-game losing streak when it takes on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Wednesday in College Station.
The Aggies, who moved back five spots in the national poll, were defeated in back-to-back games by No. 12 Missouri in their last two games, losing both each game by a margin of eight points.
Senior catcher Erin Glasco had one of A&M's five hits in the games against Missouri and recorded the team's only RBI. Glasco, who bats .301 and leads the team in on base percentage with .496, said the A&M offense is looking to have an offensive mental makeover.
"We know that we need to come out with a completely different approach," she said. "We have to be aggresive, dig deep and show a lot of heart."
A&M and Oklahoma State have met 55 times and the Aggies lead the series 35-20. The Cowgirls split games against A&M when the two met in Stillwater, Okla., during the 2008 season.
The games Wednesday will be the second consecutive doubleheader for A&M, the first of which was forced because of inclement weather. Glasco said playing the games back-to-back changes the mentality of the team heading into the games.
"It's never ideal to play two conference games in the same day," Glasco said. "It's definitely a mental flip for us."
The Cowgirls, who are 27-11 in 2009 and 3-3 in the Big 12 are coming off of a pair of losses to Baylor last weekend.
Sophomore shortstop Mariah Gearhart leads the team offensively with a .342 batting average, 38 hits and a .475 on base percentage. She is tied for seventh place nationally in stolen bases, stealing 26 of 27 attempts.
Cowgirl pitchers junior Anna Whiddon and sophomore Sarah Odom have 13 and 12 wins,
respectively, for Oklahoma State. Whiddon has recorded 118 strikeouts and 58 walks with an ERA of 1.64 in 2009. Odom has an ERA of 2.25 and has allowed 32 walks while recording 80 strikeouts.
A&M Head Coach Jo Evans said the Oklahoma State pitching staff has been really solid.
"They've done a good job hitting their spots and utilizing their defense," Evans said. "They don't give up big hits or home runs."
The Aggies match up well against the Cowgirls offensively, as both teams average .277 at the plate. A&M pitchers sophomore Rhi Kliesing and freshman Rebecca Arbino have records of 14-9 and 9-4, respectively, but have allowed a combined six opposing team homeruns in the team's previous three games.
Evans said her team will focus on offense to get back on the winning track.
"We're going to continue to attack the plate," Evans said. "We need to be more aggressive on offense, but balance that with discipline."
The games mark the start of a five-game homestead at the Aggie Softball Complex.
The Aggies, who moved back five spots in the national poll, were defeated in back-to-back games by No. 12 Missouri in their last two games, losing both each game by a margin of eight points.
Senior catcher Erin Glasco had one of A&M's five hits in the games against Missouri and recorded the team's only RBI. Glasco, who bats .301 and leads the team in on base percentage with .496, said the A&M offense is looking to have an offensive mental makeover.
"We know that we need to come out with a completely different approach," she said. "We have to be aggresive, dig deep and show a lot of heart."
A&M and Oklahoma State have met 55 times and the Aggies lead the series 35-20. The Cowgirls split games against A&M when the two met in Stillwater, Okla., during the 2008 season.
The games Wednesday will be the second consecutive doubleheader for A&M, the first of which was forced because of inclement weather. Glasco said playing the games back-to-back changes the mentality of the team heading into the games.
"It's never ideal to play two conference games in the same day," Glasco said. "It's definitely a mental flip for us."
The Cowgirls, who are 27-11 in 2009 and 3-3 in the Big 12 are coming off of a pair of losses to Baylor last weekend.
Sophomore shortstop Mariah Gearhart leads the team offensively with a .342 batting average, 38 hits and a .475 on base percentage. She is tied for seventh place nationally in stolen bases, stealing 26 of 27 attempts.
Cowgirl pitchers junior Anna Whiddon and sophomore Sarah Odom have 13 and 12 wins,
respectively, for Oklahoma State. Whiddon has recorded 118 strikeouts and 58 walks with an ERA of 1.64 in 2009. Odom has an ERA of 2.25 and has allowed 32 walks while recording 80 strikeouts.
A&M Head Coach Jo Evans said the Oklahoma State pitching staff has been really solid.
"They've done a good job hitting their spots and utilizing their defense," Evans said. "They don't give up big hits or home runs."
The Aggies match up well against the Cowgirls offensively, as both teams average .277 at the plate. A&M pitchers sophomore Rhi Kliesing and freshman Rebecca Arbino have records of 14-9 and 9-4, respectively, but have allowed a combined six opposing team homeruns in the team's previous three games.
Evans said her team will focus on offense to get back on the winning track.
"We're going to continue to attack the plate," Evans said. "We need to be more aggressive on offense, but balance that with discipline."
The games mark the start of a five-game homestead at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com