College Softball News

FPN Series of the Week: No. 16 Baylor at Oklahoma State

This week for our Series of the Week, we shift our focus to the Big 12, something we haven’t done much of this season.

The No. 16 Baylor Bears travel to Stillwater, Okla., to take on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Even thought the Cowgirls aren’t ranked, they are currently tied with Oklahoma for first place in the Big 12 with 11-1 conference records. Baylor is right them at 9-3.

Game 1 is Friday night at 6:30 p.m. with Game 2 Saturday at 2 p.m. and Game 3 on Sunday at noon.

At the Plate:

The Baylor Bears, in conference games, lead the Big 12 in team batting average (.330), on-base percentage (.407) and hits (116). They are paced by senior Lindsey Cargill who leads the conference in batting average (.487), on-base percentage (.545), runs scored (14), hits (19) and triples (1). Overall this season, including non-conference, she is hitting .457 with 40 runs scored and a .503 on-base percentage. The Bears don’t necessarily have a big power game. Shelby Friudenberg leads the team in homers (7) and RBI (37).

The Cowgirls are hitting .308 on the year, .307 in conference games. In Big 12 games, they have produced 75 runs, 94 hits and collected 64 walks. Vanessa Shippy has been the team leader offensively. She is hitting .406 on the year, .417 in Big 12 games. In 49 games, she has scored 44 runs, collected 58 hits and 40 RBI. She has a team-high .643 slugging and has only struck out 16 times in 143 at bats. Similar to the Bears, OSU doesn’t hit many long balls either. Kristin Reasnor leads the team with eight homers and 43 RBI.

In the Circle:

Kelsee Selman has been a stud for Baylor in the circle. In 33 games, she has an ERA of 1.45 and an 18-6 record. She has allowed 32 earned runs and 33 walks while striking out 147 in 154 innings pitched. Gia Rodoni is right behind her at a 1.71 ERA and 13-1 record in 23 games. Rodoni has 113 strikeouts in 101 innings and has only allowed 28 earned runs. Shelby McGlaun has seen some action in relief as well. She has thrown 57.2 innings and has a 2.06 ERA.

OSU’s staff has pitched better in conference games than the rest of the season. Heading into this weekend, they have a team-ERA of 2.00. Overall, that ERA is 3.76. Brandi Needham has been the leader all season. She has appeared in 28 games and is 17-5. In 123.1 innings, she has allowed 124 hits, 46 earned runs, and 27 walks. Shea Coats has the second-most appearances with 18. In 74.1 innings, she has struck a team-high 72. Logan Simunek, Whitney Whitehorn and Christina Biggerstaff round out the rest of the staff for the Cowgirls.

Analysis & Prediction:

Oklahoma State has been playing very well since conference play started but they have yet to play the in-state rival, Oklahoma. On the other hand, Baylor is coming off a series loss to the Sooners. Baylor’s offense has the ability to hit the ball and get on base consistently; they just have to score the runs. The Bears don’t want to lose two conference series in a row and the Cowgirls want to make sure next weekend is a battle for first place.

This is sure to be a good battle and should be a lot of back-and-forth.

Pick: Baylor

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