Oklahoma State University Athletics
Softball Prepares For Tulsa Invitational
March 02, 2005 | Cowgirl Softball
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 106-72 record as a head coach into the tournament. 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.
THE TULSA INVITATIONAL FIELD
North Texas
The Mean Green is 3-13 on the season and 0-8 on neutral fields. Stephanie Cranmer leads the team with a .310 batting average, three doubles and seven RBI. A trio of pitchers have seen substantial time in the circle. Kristina Fowler paces the group with a 2.42 ERA and 2-4 record in 46.1 innings. Katy Maxey (3.57 ERA, 1-5, 31.1 IP) and Mandy Hacker (2.96 ERA, 0-3, 26.0 IP) fill the reserve roles. The Cowgirls lead the all-time series with North Texas 3-1. The two teams split last season with the Mean Green coming away with a 4-2 win in the final meeting.
Tulsa
Tulsa is 9-11 on the year and went 2-2 last weekend at their own tournament, the Holiday Inn-Select Festival. Lindsey Tower leads the Golden Hurricane with a .297 batting average, six doubles and has two of TU's three triples. Stacy Walkingstick is one to watch on the bases as she has eight steals in nine attempts. Lindsey Dyer leads the pitching staff with a 1.33 ERA and 4-1 record in 42 innings. Julie Fennell is 3-5 on the season with a 1.94 ERA in 54.0 innings. Oklahoma State leads the overall series 18-6 but TU has won three straight including an 8-6 win earlier this year at the Pepsi Arizona Classic. With the Cowgirls leading 6-1, the Golden Hurricane scored seven runs in the seventh inning to earn the win.
Wisconsin
The Badgers are 3-3 on the year after a 3-2 showing at the Palm Springs Classic last weekend. Anastasia Miller leads the team with a .533 batting average and eight runs. Ricci Robben has a team-high nine RBI and has sent four of her six hits for extra bases (one double, three home runs). Eden Brock is Wisconsin's go-to pitcher, tossing 21.0 innings for a 3.00 ERA and 3-1 record. Megan Smith (0-2, 2.47 ERA, 11.1 IP) and Katie Layne (0-0, 0.88 ERA, 8.0 IP have stepped in in relief). Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the Cowgirls and Badgers.
Wichita State
The Shockers are 6-4 on the season and played just two games during the final two weeks of February. Stephanie De La Riva leads Wichita State in nearly every offensive category including home runs (3), RBI (7), batting average (.321) and stolen bases (4-4). Margo Pruis and Lindsay Craig have split time in the circle. Pruis is 3-1 on the year with a 1.04 ERA in 33.2 innings. In 30.2 innings, Craig has a 2.51 ERA and 2-3 record. Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with WSU 64-3. The Cowgirls and Shockers split last season with both teams taking a 1-0 win on the road.
Louisiana-Monroe
The Indians are 6-12 on the year and enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak. Kristen Baker leads the team with a .259 batting average, 10 runs and seven stolen bases. Lindsay Schafer is the power hitter of the team, connecting for a team-high three home runs. Danielle Lahr leads the pitching staff with a 2.93 ERA and 4-4 record in 43.0 innings. Jennifer Braley fills the reserve role but is winless on the year with a 3.87 ERA in 38 innings. OSU leads the all-time series 4-2 and won the last meeting 5-1 at the UTA Classic in 2002.
LOOKING AHEAD
OSU returns to Cowgirl Stadium for the first time in two weeks when it hosts UMKC for a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday, March 8. The Cowgirls head to Florida the following weekend for their final tournament of the season, the Speedline Invitational in Clearwater.
