Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Cowgirls Earn Top-15 Ranking from Fastpitch News
January 17, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER – The preseason hype for the 2019 Oklahoma State softball season continued to pick up steam Thursday, as the Cowgirls were slotted at No. 15 in Fastpitch News' D1 Preseason Rankings.
Oklahoma State is coming off a 39-22 season in which the Cowgirls earned their first top-two finish in the Big 12 since 2003 and made their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. An opening-day rout of No. 7 Arizona, the program's first three-game sweep of then-No. 16 Baylor and OSU's first series victory over Texas in Austin rank as some of the top performances from the Cowgirls a season ago.
This season, coach Kenny Gajewski and his staff return several key figures, including a trio of standout seniors in Rylee Bayless, Taylor Lynch and Madi Sue Montgomery. Also back this season are sophomore infielder Sydney Pennington, second-year Cowgirl Samantha Clakley and rising pitcher Logan Simunek.
In addition to a strong core of returning talent, Oklahoma State boasts one of the nation's premier group of freshmen, highlighted by Kiley Naomi and Mady Lohman.
The returners and fresh faces created plenty of reason for optimism for folks within the program heading into 2019, but Gajewski and his staff weren't done quite yet, as they signed a trio of SEC transfers to truly put OSU's roster among the nation's elite.
Samantha Show, a two-way star at Texas A&M, was the first signing of the summer. She brings with her a career .283 batting average and is someone who possesses plenty of pop in her bat, racking up 47 extra-base hits in her career thus far. Show also comes to Stillwater with 2.88 ERA in 442.1 career innings pitched, and will likely feature as a workhorse arm for the Cowgirls in her final collegiate season.
Following Show's signing, LSU infielder Sydney Springfield and Tennessee pitcher Gabby Sprang joined the fold. Springfield has shown plenty of promise as a power hitter during her two seasons in the SEC, while Sprang comes to Oklahoma State just a year removed from being ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect - and top pitcher - in FloSoftball's 2017 HOT 100 recruiting rankings.
Thursday's ranking marks the latest sign of a rejuvenated program in Stillwater, and one that is ready to reclaim its spot among college softball's elite. The NFCA Coaches Poll and ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 are both expected to be released later this month.
Oklahoma State, meanwhile, is set to open its 2019 season Friday, Feb. 8, at the Houston Invitational in Houston, Texas. The Cowgirls will face Illinois and the Cougars on opening day before clashing with Sam Houston State, the Illini again and Kentucky over the weekend.
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Oklahoma State is proud to celebrate more than 40 years of rich softball tradition and its 20th season of play at Cowgirl Stadium this year. To renew or purchase your season tickets for the 2019 campaign, visit okstate.com/tickets or call the OSU ticket office at 877-ALL-4-OSU.
Oklahoma State is coming off a 39-22 season in which the Cowgirls earned their first top-two finish in the Big 12 since 2003 and made their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. An opening-day rout of No. 7 Arizona, the program's first three-game sweep of then-No. 16 Baylor and OSU's first series victory over Texas in Austin rank as some of the top performances from the Cowgirls a season ago.
This season, coach Kenny Gajewski and his staff return several key figures, including a trio of standout seniors in Rylee Bayless, Taylor Lynch and Madi Sue Montgomery. Also back this season are sophomore infielder Sydney Pennington, second-year Cowgirl Samantha Clakley and rising pitcher Logan Simunek.
In addition to a strong core of returning talent, Oklahoma State boasts one of the nation's premier group of freshmen, highlighted by Kiley Naomi and Mady Lohman.
The returners and fresh faces created plenty of reason for optimism for folks within the program heading into 2019, but Gajewski and his staff weren't done quite yet, as they signed a trio of SEC transfers to truly put OSU's roster among the nation's elite.
Samantha Show, a two-way star at Texas A&M, was the first signing of the summer. She brings with her a career .283 batting average and is someone who possesses plenty of pop in her bat, racking up 47 extra-base hits in her career thus far. Show also comes to Stillwater with 2.88 ERA in 442.1 career innings pitched, and will likely feature as a workhorse arm for the Cowgirls in her final collegiate season.
Following Show's signing, LSU infielder Sydney Springfield and Tennessee pitcher Gabby Sprang joined the fold. Springfield has shown plenty of promise as a power hitter during her two seasons in the SEC, while Sprang comes to Oklahoma State just a year removed from being ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect - and top pitcher - in FloSoftball's 2017 HOT 100 recruiting rankings.
Thursday's ranking marks the latest sign of a rejuvenated program in Stillwater, and one that is ready to reclaim its spot among college softball's elite. The NFCA Coaches Poll and ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 are both expected to be released later this month.
Oklahoma State, meanwhile, is set to open its 2019 season Friday, Feb. 8, at the Houston Invitational in Houston, Texas. The Cowgirls will face Illinois and the Cougars on opening day before clashing with Sam Houston State, the Illini again and Kentucky over the weekend.
----
Oklahoma State is proud to celebrate more than 40 years of rich softball tradition and its 20th season of play at Cowgirl Stadium this year. To renew or purchase your season tickets for the 2019 campaign, visit okstate.com/tickets or call the OSU ticket office at 877-ALL-4-OSU.
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