Oklahoma State University Athletics
Softball Prepares For Border War
March 28, 2005 | Cowgirl Softball
Tuesday, March 29
Fayetteville, Ark. • Lady'Back Yard
vs. Tulsa at 3 p.m.
Radio: KSPI 780 AM • live stats: www.okstate.com
at Arkansas at 5 p.m.
Radio: KGFY 105.5 FM • live stats: www.okstate.com
ON TAP
Oklahoma State travels to Fayetteville for the Border War on Tuesday, looking to get back on the winning track after a 12-0 defeat against Missouri on Friday. The Cowgirls had won six straight, including their conference opener against the Tigers prior to the loss.
OSU will meet Tulsa for the fourth time this season and the second time in less than one week. The Golden Hurricane took the first two games but the Cowgirls won 6-5 last Thursday on their home turf, defeating Tulsa for the first time in two years. OSU is 1-2 against Arkansas with all three meetings coming in the Border War series.
In last year's Border War in Stillwater, the Cowgirls defeated Arkansas 2-1 and lost to Tulsa 4-0. Against the Lady Razorbacks, Shanel Scott scored the equalizing run on a single from Megan Carey and the winning run on a wild pitch. Jessica Hoppock earned the win allowing just one unearned run. Randi Cook and Hoppock combined for the loss against Tulsa. The Cowgirls struggled offensively, connecting on two hits during the game.
Live stats and radio will be available for both contests on www.okstate.com.
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 119-76 record as a head coach into the Border War. 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 19-19 overall. Katie Torres leads the squad with a .327 batting average and 10 doubles. Julie Shafer is hitting .304 with one double and is 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 6-3 on the year with a team-low 1.40 ERA in 70.0 innings. Fennell has seen more time in the circle (90.1 innings) but is 5-9 on the year with a 2.25 ERA. Last week the Cowgirls faced Dyer and Maren Genow. Genow is 5-3 on the year with a 2.26 ERA in 38.0 innings.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS
The Lady Razorbacks are 12-22 on the year and 0-9 in SEC play. Rachel LeMaster leads the team with a .396 batting average, 11 stolen bases and three triples. Kallie Foglesong has a team-leading 18 RBI coming off six doubles and three home runs. Arkansas has used six pitchers with Valanna Lyons and Katy Henry carrying the bulk of the load. Lyons is 6-10 with a 3.99 ERA in 80.2 innings. Henry has tossed 66.0 innings en route to a 4.14 ERA and 4-7 record. The staff has a 4.43 earned run average and opposing hitters are averaging .309.
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
Oklahoma State takes to the road this weekend facing North Texas on Friday at 5 p.m. before resuming conference play with a two-game set at No. 9 Baylor. The Cowgirls and Bears square off at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
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.
