Oklahoma and Oklahoma State softball players who will never get the opportunity to play in the Olympic Games will have a chance to contribute to Team USA winning a gold medal.
In March, OU and OSU will each play a game against the 2008 USA Softball women's national team as it prepares for this summer's Olympics in Beijing.
The games will be part of the 45-city KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour, which will make two stops at Oklahoma City's ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
"It is always exciting to get to play against the very best in the sport and a great opportunity to see how we measure up against the undisputed best in the country,” said OU softball coach Patty Gasso.
OSU will face Team USA on March 24 at 6:30 p.m., with OU taking on the national squad March 25 at 6:30 p.m. Team USA will end the three-day stay in Oklahoma City with a doubleheader March 26 against DePaul and Virginia Tech, starting at 5 p.m.
Team USA will return to Hall of Fame Stadium for an international exhibition series, with games against Canada and China, and the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars, June 6-8.
"The support for softball at OU and OSU is huge,” said former Texas All-American and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Cat Osterman. "I got to experience their fans as a Big 12 athlete, and they are always out in abundance and are loud and passionate about their teams. Hopefully the fans will provide that same atmosphere for us as we prepare for Beijing.”
