STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State softball team was picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference by the league’s coaches, tying the highest preseason conference ranking in school history.
 
The No. 2 ranking in the Big 12 preseason poll comes a day after Oklahoma State was ranked No. 3 in D1Softball's Preseason Top 25, which is also the highest preseason mark OSU has ever received from D1Softball.
 
The Cowgirls’ tallied a 14-4 record in conference play in 2022, highlighted by series sweeps of Baylor, Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas. Oklahoma State's postseason got off to a historic start as the Pokes claimed the program’s first ever Big 12 tournament title in an extra-innings victory over Oklahoma in the Big 12 Softball Championship.
 
Oklahoma State's 42-12 record (77.7%) is second in the Big 12 Conference over the last three seasons, trailing only Oklahoma. The Cowgirls have finished no lower than third in the Big 12 standings in each of the last six seasons.
 
The Cowgirls open the season February 10 when they take on Oregon at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
 
2023 Big 12 Softball Preseason Poll
(First-Place Votes)
1. Oklahoma (6) - 36
2. Oklahoma state (1) - 29
3. Texas - 28
4. Baylor - 20
5. Iowa State - 16
6. Texas Tech - 12
7. Kansas - 6