Oklahoma State University Athletics
Softball Hosts Texas Tech for Doubleheader
April 18, 2005 | Cowgirl Softball
2 p.m. • Cowgirl Stadium
live stats: www.okstate.com
radio: www.okstate.com or KSPI 780 AM
video: MVP package on www.okstate.com
ON TAP
Oklahoma State returns to Cowgirl Stadium to host Texas Tech for a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday. Fans unable to attend can follow the game via live stats and a free radio broadcast on www.okstate.com. A video feed will also be available as part of the MVP package.
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series 20-6 and is 7-1 in Stillwater. When Tech came to Stillwater in 2003, the Cowgirls escaped with a pair of one-run wins; 1-0 and 3-2. The Red Radiers lone win in Stillwater was a 1-0 decision in 2001.
The Cowgirls ended a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win at Iowa State on Sunday. OSU is currently seventh in the league standings and needs to come on strong the last two weeks of the season to earn a good seed at the Big 12 Tournament and make a case for a post-season bid.
ABOUT TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech is 22-17 overall and ninth in the conference with a 2-8 record under first-year head coach Teresa Wilson. Nebraska swept the Red Radiers over the weekend, earning a 7-1 win on Saturday and holding on for a 3-2 in on Sunday.
Texas Tech ranks eighth in the conference batting and pitching stats with a team batting average of .260 and a 2.81 ERA. Jennifer Corkin leads the team in nearly every offensive category. The freshman is hitting .324, has 11 doubles, five home runs and 35 RBI. 2004 All-Big 12 selections Ashley Parker and Kelly Rhyne are hitting .309 and .290, respectively.
Four different Red Radiers have five or more stolen bases led by Jennifer Bowers with six. Parker, Devin Zaragoza and Whitney Riley have stolen five each.
Erin Crawford has seen the bulk of the action in the circle, tossing 112.0 innings en route to a 3.78 ERA and 13-9 record. Sarah Losleben and Julie Hauck fill the reserve roles. Losleben is 8-1 with a 3.03 ERA in 77.1 innings. Hauck (1-5, 2.85 ERA, 47.1 IP) leads the team with three saves.
2004 FLASHBACK
Oklahoma State's softball team took two games from Texas Tech on Wednesday, cruising to a 7-2 win in the first half of the doubleheader and battling it out for an 8-4 win in eight innings in the second game. Oklahoma State improves to 24-21 overall and 4-5 in league play. The Red Raiders fall to 19-26 overall and 1-7 in Big 12 play.
The Cowgirls jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first on a RBI single from Jade Lindly but Tech had the answer run in the bottom of the frame. OSU scored two runs in the third to take the lead for good. Courtney Totte led of the frame with a double and scored on a base hit from Crystal Lee. Lee later scored on a double steal following a protective swing from Stephanie Nicholson.
The Cowgirls plated four runs to expand their lead to six after four innings. Shanel Scott connected for a two-RBI double and Megan Carey went yard for the fourth time this season with a two-run shot that cleared both fences in left field.
Jessica Hoppock improved to 18-14 on the year, giving up one run off three hits, three walks and six strikeouts in four innings. Randi Cook closed out the contest, holding the Red Raiders to one hit in three innings.
Oklahoma State's offense cooled down somewhat in the second half of the doubleheader and it took a rally in the eighth to give the Cowgirls their fourth conference win of the season. The Cowgirls took a 1-0 lead after scoring an unearned run in the top of the second in the second contest. Crystal Lee reached on a throwing error by Tech's third baseman and scored on a single from Shianne Cruce.
The bats came alive in the fifth as the Cowgirls exploded for three runs off four hits, one walk and a fielder's choice. Scott capped off the inning with a RBI single and Totte added a two-RBI double to push OSU's lead to 4-0.
The Red Raiders avoided the shutout with a home run from Elyssa Sigala in the bottom of the sixth and kept and kept the momentum in the seventh, scoring three runs to tie the game and send it into extra innings. The bases were loaded when Sigala came up big for the Red Raiders for the second consecutive at-bat. Sigala doubled to left field to bring in two runs and narrow the Cowgirls lead to 4-3.
Tech then tied the game with a bases loaded walk before the Cowgirls finally got out the inning. The Cowgirls seized the momentum in the top of the eighth when Stephanie Nicholson gave OSU the lead with a clutch grand slam. Oklahoma State loaded the bases after a pair of walks and a base hit. Tech attempted to rally once again but came up one run short after scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the frame.
Hoppock and Cook combined for the win. Hoppock gave up five runs, two unearned, off seven hits, six walks and eight strikeouts. Hoppock threw the first four innings and reentered the game in the seventh. Cook tossed two innings of relief, scattering three hits and giving up two runs.
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 124-82 record as a head coach into the Texas Tech series. 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.
IN THE POLLS
Oklahoma State will face nine opponents ranked in the NFCA preseason Top 25, including three of the top four. In the most recently released poll, four of the Cowgirls opponents are ranked in the top 10. In addition, five Big 12 schools, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Baylor and Missouri are ranked.
LOOKING AHEAD
Oklahoma State heads north for its final road trip of the season, visiting Nebraska for a two-game set. The series begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday and wraps up at noon on Sunday. The Sunday game will be televised by CSTV. The Cowgirls close out the regular season next week, hosting Oklahoma on Wednesday and Texas on Saturday and Sunday.
