Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Finishes 2001 Season On Positive Note
May 14, 2001 | Cowgirl Softball
May 14, 2001
Oklahoma State's Cowgirl softball team may not have been selected as an at-large team to the 2001 NCAA Regional Tournament, but OSU did finish the season on a positive note ... finishing second at the Big 12 Tournament.
After a frustrating year of highs and lows, the Cowgirls went into the postseason conference tourney as the No. 5 seed. OSU defeated fourth-seeded Kansas in the first round, a mild upset, before totally surprising the top-seeded Nebraska Huskers, 2-1, to remain in the winners' bracket.
The Cowgirls next faced the Texas Tech Red Raiders, with the most dominating pitcher in the country, Amanda Renfro. TTU defeated OSU, 1-0, to force an if-necessary game. Oklahoma State rallied behind some fine pitching by Lauren Bay and Tiffany Paper to defeat the Red Raiders, 2-1, and enter the championship game vs. the Oklahoma Sooners.
The defending national champions were too much to handle for the Cowgirls as they suffered a 6-0 defeat in the finals. Amanda Hayes and Jade Lindly were both named to the all-tournament team for their timely hitting in winning three games.
Despite the fact that Oklahoma State did not make the NCAA postseason -- only three Big 12 schools were invited despite having as many as six teams ranked throughout the season -- it was a year full of positives.
Three Cowgirls were named to the all-conference squad: Lauren Bay, Jenny Kipp and Ryan Realmuto, and all three will be back next season. Seven players, the most of any Big 12 school, were named first-team Academic All-Big 12.
Head Coach Sandy Fischer picked up the 900th win in her career with OSU's win over Texas Tech on Saturday. She is now 900-383-3.
Oklahoma State loses two seniors in outfielder Amanda Hayes and second baseman Lezli Leathers. Both were consistent starters the last two seasons, and will be hard to replace. However, OSU returns both starting pitchers next season (Bay and Paper), as well as catcher Ryan Realmuto, first baseman Stephanie Hodges, third baseman Jenny Kipp, shortstop Casey O'Neill, and outfielders Jade Lindly, Nicci Quiroz and Danielle Thomas.
