The Basics
The No. 4/6 Oklahoma State softball team (26-5 overall, 7-2 Big 12) returns to Cowgirl Stadium for four games in five days, starting with Missouri State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Cowgirls then host No. 3/2 Texas for a three-game set from March 28-30. Game one is slated for 6 p.m. on Thursday. Friday’s contest is set for 7 p.m. Saturday’s finale is at 1 p.m.
Watch, Listen, Follow
Fans can stream all four contests on ESPN+, with Friday’s game televised nationally on ESPN2. Fans can also listen on stillwaterradio.net or the Varsity Network app with Bill Van Ness on the call. Live stats for all of OSU’s games are available online at okstate.statbroadcast.com.
Fans can follow @CowgirlSB on X all season for regular coverage and updates.
In The Rankings
Oklahoma State is No. 4 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll and No. 6 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. Softball America has the Cowgirls at No. 7 and D1Softball has the Pokes at No. 3. In the NCAA Softball Rating Percentage Index (RPI), OSU slots in at No. 13. Missouri State is unranked, while Texas checks in at No. 3/2.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Even with several new faces in key roles this season, Oklahoma State is performing at a high level. With underclassmen enjoying significant success, Oklahoma State boasts a 26-5 record with five victories over ranked opponents. The nine shutouts turned in by OSU pitchers ranks 16th in the nation. Graduate senior Lexi Kilfoyl has already earned national recognition for her strong performances in the circle, earning Wilson/ NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors to go with the Big 12 weekly award on February 27. At one point this season, Kilfoyl pitched 39.0 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run. Senior Ivy Rosenberry has made remarkable strides under new pitching coach Carrie Eberle, having more than doubled her strikeout total from last season (20 last season, 44 so far this season). Kilfoyl and Rosenberry currently rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the Big 12 in earned run average, holding ERAs of 0.95 and 1.04, respectively. The Cowgirls opened Big 12 play with a gritty series victory over then-No. 19/14 Baylor in Waco. OSU trailed late in all three contests but outscored the Bears by a combined margin of 7-2 in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. The Pokes secured their first Big 12 sweep of the season over UCF from March 15-17 in Stillwater, outscoring the Knights in the series, 18-8. The Cowgirls were tested in Provo after dropping game two of the three-game series, however they prevailed with the series victory following a 10-2 run-rule victory in the series finale.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• The Cowgirls have won 20 of their last 23, including victories over No. 4 Washington, No. 16 Florida and No. 19 Baylor (twice). In that stretch, OSU has outscored its opponents by a combined margin of 123-44.
• Oklahoma State has scored first in 26 of its 31 contests this season.
• OSU has been ranked in the NFCA poll in each of its last 302 games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
• OSU has outscored its opponents, 19-3, from the seventh inning on.
• OSU is 5-1 in one-run games.
• Dating back to the Washington game on Feb. 22, OSU has hit 29 home runs and allowed only seven.
• Oklahoma State has hit at least three home runs in seven different games so far this season.
• OSU has eclipsed 10+ hits in 10 contests so far this season.
• Dating to last season, Tallen Edwards has started 51 consecutive games, the longest streak on the team.
• Rosie Davis has reached base safely in her last nine games, the longest streak on the team. In her last four games, she has eight bases on balls.
• The Oklahoma State pitching staff has tallied at least five strikeouts in 11 of its last 17 games.
Series History
Oklahoma State and Missouri State have met 40 times, with OSU leading the series, 33-7. In Stillwater, the Pokes are 18-4 against the Bears, and in the Gajewski era OSU is 5-1. Texas leads the series against OSU, 41-32. In the Gajewski era, the Cowgirls are 18-11. In Stillwater, the series is tied at 16 apiece.
