Oklahoma State University Athletics
Softball Opens Three-Game Homestand Against Golden Hurricane
March 24, 2005 | Cowgirl Softball
Thursday, March 24 • 6:30 p.m.
Radio: KGFY 105.5 FM
Live Stats: www.okstate.com
Missouri at Oklahoma State
Friday, March 25 • 5:30 p.m. (DH)
Radio: KGFY 105.5 FM
Live Stats: www.okstate.com
ON TAP
Oklahoma State opens a three-game homestand with a non-conference tilt against Tulsa at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The weekend continues with the Cowgirls hosting 14th-ranked Missouri to open Big 12 play on Friday. The Cowgirls and Tigers take the field at 5:30 p.m. for a doubleheader. The series was changed from a Friday/Saturday format due to the forecast for rain and cold temperatures on Saturday.
The Cowgirls will have revenge on their mind when Tulsa comes calling. The Golden Hurricane has won the last four meetings, including two this season and a 4-0 win in Stillwater last spring. OSU leads the all-time series 18-7 but recent history has evened the playing field with the last 10 meetings resulting in a 5-5 record for the Cowgirls.
OSU also leads the series with Mizzou, holding a 53-26 advantage but the Tigers took three from the Cowgirls last spring. OSU went 2-0 on Missouri's last trip to Stillwater, posting 8-0 and 2-1 wins in 2003.
The Cowgirls are riding a four-game winning streak and have won 11 of their last 12. During that span OSU has posted five shutouts and held its opponent to two runs or less in each win.
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 117-75 record as a head coach into the Tulsa contest. 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 TULSA
Tulsa enters the contest 18-18 overall following a 3-2 finish at the FAU Parent's Weekend Tournament. Katie Torres leads the squad with a .323 batting average and nine doubles. Julie Shafer is hitting .302 with one double, the only other Golden Hurricane to break the .300 mark. Stacy Walkingstick is one to watch on the bases, going 17-for-19 on stolen base attempts. All four of the Golden Hurricane pitchers have made at least 10 appearances but Lindsey Dyer and Julie Fennell lead the staff. Dyer is 6-2 on the year with a team-low 1.11 ERA in 69.2 innings. Fennell has seen more time in the circle (90.1 innings) but is 5-9 on the year with a 2.25 ERA.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
The Tigers are 26-2 on the year and riding a 17-game winning streak. Mizzou's last loss was a 6-5 setback in eight innings against Minnesota on February 25. Micaela Minner leads the team with 10 home runs and a .500 batting average. The Tigers are hitting .333 as a team with all nine starters coming in at or above .300. Erica Peterson and Jen Bruck have shared the load in the circle, teaming up to toss seven shutouts. Peterson is 13-1 on the year with a 0.88 ERA. Bruck is 12-1 with a 1.55 Mizzou added another weapon to its staff when first-team All-Big 12 pitcher Erin Kalka returned to the lineup after sitting out the first half of the season due to injury. Kalka is 1-0 in five appearances with a 0.58 ERA.
IN THE POLLS
Oklahoma State will face nine opponents ranked in the NFCA preseason Top 25, including three of the top four. OSU's opponents and their preseason rankings are UCLA (2), Arizona (3), Oklahoma (4), Washington (11), Oregon (13), Texas (15), Baylor (17), Nebraska (18) and Illinois (22). Currently, 10 are ranked including four in the top 10.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cowgirls kick off a six-game road swing on Tuesday with the Border War in Fayetteville, Ark. OSU plays Tulsa at 3 p.m. and Arkansas at 5 p.m. The week continues with the Cowgirls traveling south to take on North Texas and Baylor over the weekend .
COWGIRL SOFTBALL ON THE AIR
Oklahoma State's home conference games, as well as the OU game in Norman, the Border War in Fayetteville, Ark., and all postseason contests will be broadcast live on Stillwater Radio. Bill VanNess will provide the play-by-play for the seventh 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 2005 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 and select away games. The games listed below will be broadcast via a live video feed on the web site as part of the MVP package.
