(STILLWATER, Oklahoma / February 18, 2019) – Hall of fame coaches Gary Ward and Gene Stephenson will present the starting lineups prior to the Oklahoma State-Wichita State baseball game on March 5 in Stillwater as part of the celebration of the final season of Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

Both Ward and Stephenson are members of the College Baseball Hall of Fame and left their marks as the winningest coaches in Oklahoma State and Wichita State history, with each taking over head coaching duties at the respective programs in 1978.

Under the two legends’ guidance, the Oklahoma State-Wichita State rivalry flourished as one of the best in college baseball during the 1980s and 1990s.

Ward- and Stephenson-coached teams squared off 45 times on the diamond, with nine of those matchups coming in NCAA Regional play and two in the College World Series.

In 19 seasons in Stillwater (1978-1996), Ward compiled a record of 953-313-1 and led the Cowboys to 10 College World Series appearances and three NCAA runner-up finishes.

Under Ward’s direction, OSU won a record 16 consecutive Big Eight Conference titles from 1981-96, and the Cowboys advanced to the CWS seven-straight years from 1981-87.

Ward was instrumental in the construction of Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, which opened late in the 1981 season. He was enshrined in the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Stephenson coached WSU for 36 seasons (1978-2013) and posted a 1,768-673-3 record. A three-time NCAA Coach of the Year, Stephenson led the Shockers to 27 NCAA Regional berths, seven CWS appearances and the 1989 NCAA title. He was inducted to the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

The first 500 fans at the game against the Shockers will receive a special promotional poster highlighting OSU’s Major League Baseball players of the Allie P. era.

Additionally, the game will mark Teacher Tuesday, with OSU faculty and staff able to purchase $3 tickets via a special promo code.

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