Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Opens Home Season Against OCU
February 14, 2005 | Cowgirl Softball
Last weekend the Cowgirls went 3-1 at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas. After Friday's games were rained out OSU finally saw some sun on Saturday. The Cowgirls started with a 3-0 blanking against Hawaii but stumbled against BYU, falling 2-12. Sunday was an impressive showing for the Cowgirls. The day began with a 3-2 win against 13th-ranked Oregon thanks to a walk off home run from sophomore Jennie Killman. OSU followed that performance with a 4-1 win against tournament host, UNLV. Once again the Cowgirls produced late-game heroics, scoring four runs in the seventh inning.
HEAD COACH MARGARET REBENAR
Margaret Rebenar is in her 26th season season as a softball coach at Oklahoma State and fourth 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 100-70 record as a head coach into the OCU game. Hitting the century mark was an exciting game for Rebenar as the Cowgirls staged a come-from-behind victory at UNLV, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to earn a 4-1 win.
SCOUTING OCU
OCU opens its season against the Cowgirls on Tuesday. Last year the Stars finished the season ranked seventh after a trip to the NAIA semifinals. In his 17th year, head coach Phil McSpadden led his team to a 55-14 record overall and second-place finish in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Stars return their top seven hitters and all three pitchers from one year ago. Angela Stratton led the team with a .354 batting average and 63 runs, and was second on the squad with 10 home runs. Jill Vaughn led the team with 11 long balls and 21 doubles. As a team the Stars had 99 stolen bases, paced by Lelyz Gomez with 24 and Lacey Clabaugh with 21. Julia Hartnell led the pitching staff with a 0.67 ERA and 33-5 record including 13 shutouts.
SCOUTING OBU
Thursday will mark the opening of OBU's regular-season as well. The Bison finished sixth in the SAC race with a 4-20 record and 9-35 overall after making the NAIA tournament in 2002 and 2003. Three players return from the 2004 squad including pitcher Amanda Zahara who was 2-9 with a 2.73 ERA. Zahara will see a familiar face behind the plate as Brett Swofford returns after starting 38 games last season and hitting two home runs. The Lady Bison's final returner is third baseman Katy Thurber, a 2003 All-America selection.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cowgirls get a rare weekend off before hosting Panhandle State on Tuesday, Feb. 22. OSU's next tournament is the Palm Springs Classic Feb. 25-27.
