Oklahoma State University Athletics
Softball Opens Conference Play Against Nebraska
March 26, 2004 | Cowgirl Softball
Oklahoma State opens conference play against No. 22 Nebraska, hosting the Huskers for a two-game series this weekend at Cowgirl Stadium. The Cowgirls and Huskers kick off the weekend at 2 p.m. on Saturday and close out the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Cowgirls had dropped six of the last seven contests to Nebraska until taking three last season, a regular season sweep and one at the Big 12 Tournament.
Last 5 meetings
2003 W, 2-1 7 Lincoln, Neb.
2003 W, 3-2 (12) Lincoln, Neb.
2003 W, 3-2 9 Big 12 Tournament
2002 L, 2-3 9 Stillwater, Okla.
2002 L, 1-2 7 Stillwater, Okla.
Extra innings have been a common theme in the recent meetings with three of the last four taking extra time. Last year Cowgirls pulled out a 3-2 win at Lincoln in a 12-inning battle that lasted nearly four hours.
HEAD COACH MARGARET REBENAR
Margaret Rebenar is in her 25th season season as a softball coach at Oklahoma State and third as a head coach. Rebenar joined the Cowgirl softball program in 1980 after serving as a pitching coach at UCLA for one season. After filling the assistant coach role for 22 seasons, Rebenar was named the head coach in 2001. Rebenar led the 2003 Cowgirls to a second-place finish in the Big 12 regular season race and their first NCAA Regional appearance in five years. Under her guidance, 23 players have earned All-American status 29 times, including Olympians Michele Smith, Melanie Roche and Lauren Bay. Rebenar brings a 87-53 record as a head coach into the Nebraska series.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
Nebraska is 20-11 on the year and ranked 22nd in the latest NFCA Coaches poll. The Huskers are coming off a 1-0 win against Creighton in eight innings on Wednesday. Nebraska is led by Anne Steffan with a .379 batting average and 18 stolen bases. Nicole Trimboli is fourth on the squad with a .323 average but leads the squad and is second in the Big 12 with 28 RBI. The Huskers are hitting .257 as a team and have six players averaging over .300 at the plate. Peaches James, the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, leads Nebraska's pitching staff. James is 15-5 on the year with 15 starts and 14 complete games. The senior has a 0.78 ERA and is averaging 9.2 strikeouts per game. She also leads the conference with eight shutouts and ranks second in strikeouts. Summer Tobias is the No. 2 pitcher with a 1.65 ERA and 4-5 record in 59.1 innings. Ashley DeBuhr has seen limited action, tossing 24.2 innings for a 1-1 start and 4.82 ERA.
LOOKING AHEAD
Oklahoma State hosts the annual Border War next Wednesday at Cowgirl Stadium. Tulsa and Arkansas play at 3 p.m., OSU and Arkansas at 5 p.m. and OSU and Tulsa close out the day with a 7 p.m. contest. The Cowgirls hit the road next weekend, traveling to Missouri for their first Big 12 road games of the year.
COWGIRL SOFTBALL ON THE AIR
Oklahoma State's home conference games, as well as the OU game in Norman, the TU game in Tulsa and all postseason contests will be broadcast live on Stillwater Radio. Bill VanNess will provide the play-by-play for the sixth consecutive season. Any game starting prior to 5 p.m. will air on KSPI 780 AM. Any game starting at 5 p.m. or later will be broadcast on KGFY 105.5 FM.
COWGIRL SOFTBALL ON THE WEB
For the latest information on 2004 Cowgirl Softball visit the official web site of Oklahoma State Athletics at www.okstate.com. Live stats will be available online for all home events.
