Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Heads To California
March 04, 2004 | Cowgirl Softball
Oklahoma State heads west for the second straight weekend to compete in its fourth tournament of the year, the Worth Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The Cowgirls open the tournament against No. 10 Stanford and Cal State Northridge on Friday. OSU faces No. 25 Oregon State and host Cal State Fullerton on Saturday before closing out the weekend with Portland State on Sunday.
OSU's Worth Invitational Schedule Friday, March 5 Oklahoma State vs. Stanford, noon (live stats) Oklahoma State vs. Cal State Northridge, 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 6 Oklahoma State vs. Oregon State, 2 p.m. Oklahoma State vs. Cal State Fullerton, 6 p.m. (live stats)
Sunday, March 7 Oklahoma State vs. Portland State (live stats) -times listed are CST-
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. She brings a 80-45 record as a head coach into the weekend. 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.
OKLAHOMA STATE'S OPPONENTS
Stanford
Stanford leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State 4-3 and has won four of the last five meetings. The Cowgirls were blanked by Stanford, 10-0, last weekend at the Wildcat Worth Invitational. Stanford is 13-5 on the year and is led by Jackie Rinehart and Catalina Morris. Rinehart has a team-leading .389 batting average with just three of her 12 hits going for extra bases. Morris has sent 10 for extra bases; four doubles, three triples and three home runs, and has a .347 batting average. Dana Sorensen leads Stanford from the circle with a 1.56 ERA and 7-3 record in 62.2 innings. Laura Severson is the primary reserve, tossing 35.2 innings for a 1.37 ERA and 4-2 record.
Cal State Northridge
The all-time series between Oklahoma State and Cal State Northridge is tied 2-2. The teams have not played since facing each other twice in the 1994 Women's College World Series. The Matadors are 10-4 on the year and have won five straight. Northridge is led by Christen Badwell with two doubles, two triples, four home runs and a .400 batting average. Three pitchers share time for the Matadors. Kia Fennell has a 3-3 record in 42.0 innings. Erin Sigala has the lowest ERA (1.04) in 27.0 innings. Sigala is a perfect 4-0 and has earned four of the last five decisions for Northridge. Rounding out the group is Jenny Wheeler (3-1) with a 4.04 ERA in 26.0 innings.
Oregon State
Oregon State holds a slim 7-6 advantage in the all-time series with Oklahoma State but the Cowgirls have dropped five straight to the Beavers. Oregon State is 15-6 on the year and is coming off a 5-0 blanking of then-No. 6 Georgia. Vanessa Iapala paces Oregon State with a team-high 16 RBIs and a .349 batting average. Three Beavers; Iapala, Adrienne Alo and Kelly Peterson, have four home runs each. As a team Oregon State has hit 16 longs balls in 21 games. Monica Hoffman leads the Beavers from the circle with a 0.80 ERA and 8-4 record in 78.1 innings. Filling the reserve roles are Brianne McGowan (3-1, 1.17 ERA, 30.2 innings) and Ta'Tyana McElroy (4-1, 3.28 ERA, 24.2 innings).
Cal State Fullerton
Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series with the Cowgirls 10-2. OSU won the first two meetings but has not beaten the Titans since 1983. The series started in 1981 but only four games have been played in the last 10 years. CSF is 4-10 on the year but has registered wins over then-No. 10 Texas and No. 18 Arizona State. Julie Watson leads Fullerton with a .388 batting average. Lindsay Watson follows at a .286 clip and leads the team with three home runs and seven RBIs. Brooke Weekley (3-2, 3.12 ERA, 49.1 innings) and Candice Baker (1-8, 5.01 ERA, 43.1 innings) share time in the circle.
Portland State
The only meeting between OSU and PSU came in 2002 with Portland State coming away with the 4-1 win at the Worth Invitational in Fullerton. The Vikings are 5-5 on the year. Portland State is led by Rose Rutledge with a .517 batting average. Two others, Annie Peccia and Maggie DeWall are hitting over .400. Kayla Lewis is only batting .214 but has a team-leading 10 RBIs. Michelle Hext leads the Vikings from the mound with a 4-2 record and 2.47 ERA in 34.0 innings. Christy Hess and Vanessa Holm fill the backup roles. Hess is 1-2 on the year with a 2.69 ERA in 13.0 innings. Holm has a 5.00 ERA and 0-1 record in 14.0 innings.
LOOKING AHEAD
Oklahoma State will square off with Wichita State for the annual home-and-home series upon returning from California. The Cowgirls host the Shockers on March 11 at 6 p.m. and head to Wichita for a 5 p.m. contest on March 16.
