Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Hosts Tulsa
April 19, 2003 | Cowgirl Softball
The Cowgirls improved to 4-0 in conference play over the weekend, taking a pair from Baylor in Waco, Texas. Lauren Bay picked up both wins, throwing two complete game shutouts against the Bears. Ryan Realmuto was the hero at the plate, earning the game-winning hit in both contests. Realmuto had a RBI single on Saturday and a three-run long ball on Sunday to clench the victory.
Tulsa is 21-11 and coming off a third place finish at the Hoo's Who Invitational hosted by Virginia. The Cowgirls fell to Penn State in the opening game before winning four straight to finish strong.
HEAD COACH MARGARET REBENAR Margaret Rebenar is in her 24th season season as a softball coach at Oklahoma State and second as a head coach. She brings a 53-29 record as a head coach into Saturday's game. She was inducted into the NFCA/Easton "300 win" club in 2000 and guided the Cowgirls to a regional championship and a College World Series appearance in 1998. Under her guidance, 22 players have earned All-American status 28 times, including Olympians Michele Smith and Melanie Roche.
SCOUTING REPORT ON TULSA Tulsa enters Wednesday's game having won nine of its last 11, including four straight. Brandi McGuire leads the Golden Hurricane with a .348 batting average on eight doubles and and three home runs. Crissy Strimple is the power-hitter on the team, connecting for nine home runs and a team-leading 28 RBI while batting .343. Tulsa is averaging just under one stolen base per game with five runners stealing four or more bases. The duo of Ami Day and Maren Genow lead the Golden Hurricane from the mound and both have 13 decisions to their name. Day is 8-5 with a 1.36 ERA and three shutouts. Genow sits at 10-3 on a 1.97 ERA also with three shutouts. Lindsey Dyer rounds out the bullpen, holding a 3-4 record and 2.45 ERA.
OKLAHOMA STATE IN THE POLLS The Cowgirls are currently ranked in both the NFCA Coaches and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 polls. The Cowgirls entered the NFCA poll for the first time the week of March 11th ranked 23rd after defeating Northwestern and Stanford to capture the title at the Speedline Invitational. Oklahoma State is currently ranked 16th for the second consecutive week in the ESPN.com poll, after debuting at 23 in the inaugural listing this spring.
BIG 12 RANKINGS Oklahoma State's pitching staff currently ranks second in the Big 12 with a 0.94 ERA behind Texas (0.69). Lauren Bay appears in several statistical categories, for both pitching and hitting. At the plate she ranks fourth in the conference with a .356 batting average. In the circle, Bay leads the pack with a 0.46 ERA in and 229 Ks. Sarah Seagraves ranks sixth, carrying the only perfect record (9-0) on a 1.07 earned run average. As a team the Cowgirls lead the conference in fielding percentage, narrowly edging Texas.
