Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Open Regular Season at UTA Classic
February 07, 2002 | Cowgirl Softball
Feb. 7, 2002
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's softball team kicks off the 2002 regular season with a trip to Grand Prairie, Texas, to compete in the the UTA Classic. The tournament is hosted by Texas-Arlington and all games will be played at Mike Lewis Park.
Oklahoma State will compete in Pool B with Louisiana-Monroe, Baylor and Texas-San Antonio. Pool A is comprised of Oklahoma, Utah, Stephen F. Austin and tournament host, Texas-Arlington.
The Cowgirls will open the tournament Friday morning at 10 a.m. against Texas-San Antonio. After a short break, Oklahoma State will take the field again at 4 p.m. to face Baylor. Pool play continues on Saturday when the Cowgirls face Louisiana-Monroe at 9 a.m. and Texas-Arlington at 1 p.m.
Bracket play begins on Saturday at 4 p.m. and concludes on Sunday with the semifinal at 9 a.m. and the championship game at noon.
The Cowgirls return 17 letterwinners and six starters to a team that finished 28-23 last year. Junior Lauren Bay, from Trail, B.C., Canada, was an All-Midwest Region honoree at pitcher and designated player. Bay was also named to the All-Big 12 squad along with senior Jenny Kipp and junior Ryan Realmuto.
Oklahoma State finished 2-3 in last year's tournament, going 2-1 in pool play and losing two in bracket play.
The Cowgirls are coached by Margaret Rebenar, who is entering her first season as head coach of Oklahoma State softball after serving as associate head coach for nine years. Other members of the coaching staff are associate head coach Kim Ward, assistant coach Eric Whitley and volunteer student assistant Lezli Leathers.
