Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Resume Conference Play With Series at Kansas
March 31, 2006 | Cowgirl Softball
Oklahoma State's softball team will travel to Kansas for a weekend series with the Jayhawks with the first game scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. and the finale scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. in Lawrence, Kan. OSU is coming off of a split in the Border War defeating Arkansas, 8-1, before losing a close game to the host school Tulsa, 3-2. Kim Kaye provided the thunder stick for the Cowgirls going 4-for-7 in the two games with three home runs and a triple. Jessica Hoppock completed both games for the Cowgirls and took a win and a loss on the mound. Kansas is 17-16 on the year after sweeping a double header from UMKC. The Jayhawks are 0-2 in conference action after getting swept by nationally ranked Texas A&M. KU is led by Serena Settlemier who leads the Jayhawks in every major category hitting .337 with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs. Settlemier also paces the KU pitching staff with a 10-4 record and a 1.44 ERA
Scott Scores
Junior outfielder Shanel Scott became just the second Cowgirl in school history to score 100 runs for her career when she scored on Kim Kaye's double in the third inning against Iowa State (3/26). Scott needed just 142 games to reach the milestone and is now closing in on Jamie Foutch's career record of 122 runs scored. Scott already holds the school record in stolen bases. Her next milestone to reach will be 200 hits, she currently stands at 171 hits.
Totte Good for Two Bases
Junior Courtney Totte has quietly gone about her business and now sits fourth in school history in career doubles with 27. She has nine double thus far this season and is close to her career high of 12 she set last season. Totte needs just three doubles to become the fourth player in school history to record 30 doubles in a season. Totte is approaching another milestone of 100 RBIs, she has 84 RBIs for her career. Jamie Foutch currently holds both records with 56 doubles and 163 RBIS.
Giustozzi Solid in Relief
Junior Kristina Giustozzi was a late addition to the roster after she survived a tryout. Head coach Margaret Rebenar was still not sure she was going to keep her, but the decision to keep Giustozzi around has paid off. The Neosho County Community College transfer from Tulsa is 3-0 on the season with a 2.60 ERA, leads the team. She pitched four innings of relief over the weekend (3/25-26) allowing just two hits to Iowa State and she recorded her first save of the year. The key for Giustozzi has been throwing strikes as she has a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio, also tops on the team.
Hoppock Back on Track
The pitching is an easy target for the Cowgirls slow start but it is also the reason OSU has climbed back to .500. Hoppock started the season with a 1-6 record and a 7.24 ERA in OSU's first 11 games. Hoppock has since turned the corner going 6-3 with a 1.45 ERA since the Cowgirls lost five straight at the Palm Springs Classic. The Cowgirls have gone 12-5 since then thanks in large part to Hoppock. Hoppock allowed just one earned run in 22.2 innings of work at the Hawaii Invitational for a 0.31 ERA. In a double header against Truman State she mystified the Bulldog hitters striking out 17 of a possible 21 outs she recorded.
Tweed Shines at Buzz Classic
Oklahoma State senior infielder Ashleigh Tweed continues to make the most of her playing time. Tweed has started in all but one game for the Cowgirls. Tweed tore up the field at the Buzz Classic hitting .389 (7-18) with two home runs and six RBIs. Her two home runs are a new career high and with 10 RBIs she is approaching a career high in that category as well.
Kitchens Powers Oklahoma State Past South Dakota State
Lauren Kitchens is not known for her power, but she was the most feared hitter in the Cowgirl last Friday against South Dakota State. Kitchens went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the Cowgirls past South Dakota State. OSU needed every one of her RBIs as it took 10 innings before the Cowgirls finally knocked off the Jacks. Kitchens is currently third on the team with a .317 average.
Kitchens Shreds Bears
Junior outfielder Lauren Kitchens shredded Missouri State to the tune of a .667 average. Kitchens went 4-for-6 in the double header with a double and a triple. She raised her batting average from .263 to .360, which leads the team.
Scott Sets Steals Mark
Junior outfielder Shanel Scott came into the season needing just three stolen bases to pass former Cowgirl great Cyndi Smith for the all-time lead. It did not take Scott long to get the mark, Scott stole three bases at the Campbell/Cartier Classic to open the season. She got her first steal in the season opener against Cal Poly. She was kept off the bases until the final game of the tournament when she stole two bases against UC-Santa Barbara. Scott is currently hitting .379 on the season and is 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts.
Scott, Totte moving up Career Ranks
Shanel Scott and Courtney Totte came into their junior seasons already ranking among OSU's best players all-time. Scott has already set the stolen base mark and she is moving up several other charts as well. Totte will rank as one of OSU's best run producers in school history before her career is through. See how the current Cowgirls rank on the fourth page of these notes.
Sullivan, Kaye Named to British National Team
Assistant coach Shannon Sullivan and first baseman Kim Kaye were one of 33 players selected to the British National Team. They will participate in the Francesco Sanna Tournament in Italy and the London Cup in June before a final cut is made to determine who will play in the World Cup and the World Softball Championships. Sullivan played one full year at OSU in 1998 and hit .301 with three home runs and 26 RBIs. Kaye is hitting .324 on the season and leads the team with seven home runs and 33 RBIs.
Cowgirls Slow Out of the Gates
The Cowgirls 3-10 start is the worst 13-game start in school history. The Cowgirls have played well at times with opportunities to knock off ranked opponents California, Oregon and Oregon State. OSU will have several chances down the line to beat highly ranked foes. Poor defense has been one of the main culprits for OSU's slow start. The Cowgirls have committed 26 errors in in their first 13 games, which led to 21 unearned runs. The Cowgirls still have a long season and with an offense that is hitting .283 as a team and averaging five runs a game, they will have a chance to get back on the right track.
Rebenar Honored at NFCA Banquet
Head Coach Margaret Rebenar was recently honored at the NFCA Banquet in Orlando, Fla. Rebenar was honored for winning her 500th NFCA sanctioned game over the last year. Rebenar's career career record at Oklahoma State is 138-101. She is also credited with 400 victories as the associate head coach under former OSU skipper Sandy Fischer. Rebenar has led the Cowgirls to two NCAA regional appearances, including a runner-up showing last season.
Former Cowgirl Smith inducted into Hall of Fame
Former Oklahoma State pitcher Michele Smith will be inducted into the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame. Smith was a two-time All-American at OSU with a career ERA of 0.75. She still holds the school record with 82 career wins. At the plate Smith hit a career .343 with 15 home runs and 87 RBIs. Smith went on to be a part of the first two U.S. Olympic teams in softball that both won gold medals. Smith went 2-2 with a 0.50 ERA in 41.2 Olympic innings to lead Team USA to the top of the medal platform. Smith went on to be the second overall pick in the inaugural draft of the Women's Pro Softball League in 1996. She has since retired from competition shortly after the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
