Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Slotted in Top 25 to Open 2018 Season
January 30, 2018 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State softball team will open the season ranked in both national polls, as the Cowgirls came in at No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 and No. 24 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.
It is the first time OSU enters a season ranked since 2011 when the Cowgirls opened the year at No. 23. That season, Oklahoma State went on to finish third in the Big 12 and competed in the Women's College World Series for the seventh time in program history.
Oklahoma State is coming off an impressive 38-25 campaign in 2017 that saw the Cowgirls finish third in the conference and compete in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. OSU closed out its year in the NCAA Gainesville regional, where the Cowgirls knocked off No. 1 Florida on the Gators' home turf. The squad's 38 victories were its most since 2011 and its 12 wins in Big 12 play were the most since 2010.
This season, OSU returns much of the core from last year's group, including two-time All-American Vanessa Shippy and two-time All-Region honoree Taylor Lynch.
Shippy and Lynch, along with standouts such as Rylee Bayless and Maddi Holcomb, make up a core offensive group that averaged nearly five runs per game last season. This year's returning group also makes up a large chunk of OSU's defensive lineup, as the Cowgirls return their entire starting infield and two outfielders from last year's lineup.
OSU's first pitch of the 2018 season is just over a week away, as the Cowgirls are set to face Oregon State and No. 7/7 Arizona on the opening day of the 2018 Kajikawa Classic, Friday, Feb. 9, in Tempe, Arizona.
To keep up with everything else happening within the Oklahoma State softball program, follow the Cowgirls on Twitter (@CowgirlSB), Facebook (Cowgirl Softball) and Instagram (osusoftball).
It is the first time OSU enters a season ranked since 2011 when the Cowgirls opened the year at No. 23. That season, Oklahoma State went on to finish third in the Big 12 and competed in the Women's College World Series for the seventh time in program history.
Oklahoma State is coming off an impressive 38-25 campaign in 2017 that saw the Cowgirls finish third in the conference and compete in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. OSU closed out its year in the NCAA Gainesville regional, where the Cowgirls knocked off No. 1 Florida on the Gators' home turf. The squad's 38 victories were its most since 2011 and its 12 wins in Big 12 play were the most since 2010.
This season, OSU returns much of the core from last year's group, including two-time All-American Vanessa Shippy and two-time All-Region honoree Taylor Lynch.
Shippy and Lynch, along with standouts such as Rylee Bayless and Maddi Holcomb, make up a core offensive group that averaged nearly five runs per game last season. This year's returning group also makes up a large chunk of OSU's defensive lineup, as the Cowgirls return their entire starting infield and two outfielders from last year's lineup.
OSU's first pitch of the 2018 season is just over a week away, as the Cowgirls are set to face Oregon State and No. 7/7 Arizona on the opening day of the 2018 Kajikawa Classic, Friday, Feb. 9, in Tempe, Arizona.
To keep up with everything else happening within the Oklahoma State softball program, follow the Cowgirls on Twitter (@CowgirlSB), Facebook (Cowgirl Softball) and Instagram (osusoftball).
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