Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Iowa State
Series Notes: Cowgirls Head North to Continue Big 12 Play
April 10, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball
PDF Notes - Iowa State
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State softball team, sitting in second place in the Big 12 through three weeks of conference play, will look to continue its success against the league this weekend when the Cowgirls visit Iowa State for a three-game series that begins Friday evening. OSU won three of the four meetings between the schools last season, and the Pokes are 9-2 against the Cyclones during Kenny Gajewski's tenure as head coach.
In the Rankings
Oklahoma State is ranked in both national polls this week, as the Cowgirls sit at No. 14 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and at No. 14 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25. The Cowgirls have been ranked in at least one of the national polls in 21 of the last 23 weeks, with last Tuesday's No. 13 ranking in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 marking the program's best standing since finishing the 2011 season at No. 8.
Oklahoma State From a Distance
The 2019 Oklahoma State softball team has lived on both ends of the spectrum so far in 2019. There have been numerous wins over elite programs from across the country, but also a number of disappointing losses to sides that have struggled this year.
It has been an enigmatic group at times for fourth-year head coach Kenny Gajewski, but he knows that, despite his team's struggles, this year's group is still a team loaded with talent. There are 21 star student-athletes that make up the 2019 roster, and all will have a role to play in the closing stretch of the season.
Throughout fall camp, winter workouts and the first half of this season, the Cowgirls have fought to break through the glass ceiling of sorts and bring the program back into the national spotlight. They've done that on several occasions, picking up four top-15 wins and earning victory 15 times over a team that was either ranked or receiving votes in one of the national polls.
There have been disappointing defeats as well, such as a pair of 2-1 losses to Colorado State and UT Arlington. These moments have been gut checks for a program that has its eyes on Oklahoma City. This year's team is by far the most talented of Gajewski's tenure, but they have yet to truly cement their identity.
It's a group that is smashing home runs at record pace, and one pitching well enough to be in contention to host a regional in Stillwater. But the Cowgirls still have one more ceiling to burst through. It gets more and more difficult to break through the higher you rise, and the 2019 squad is figuring that out now.
With plenty of softball still to be played this year, the Pokes have a chance to find their course and tackle all obstacles in their search for a return to the summit of collegiate softball.
Notable Streaks and Trends
- OSU is 42-29 in games decided by two runs or less since the start of the 2016 season.
- Oklahoma State starting pitchers have gone at least five innings in 27 of the Cowgirls' 40 games.
- Oklahoma State is 8-0 in 2019 when Rylee Bayless logs multiple hits as the Cowgirls' leadoff batter.
- Rylee Bayless has drawn 34 walks in 40 games to lead the Big 12 in walks and walks per game.
- Samantha Clakley has allowed more than three earned runs only once in 17 appearances this year.
- Samantha Clakley has walked more than two batters only five times in her last 49 appearances.
- Chyenne Factor has recorded a hit in 17 of her last 25 games and in 16 of the 23 games she has started.
- Taylor Lynch has reached base safely in 36 of her last 42 games and has logged a hit in 29 of those.
- Madi Sue Montgomery has started 222 consecutive games, never missing one during her OSU career.
- Kiley Naomi has reached base safely in every game but eight so far this season.
- Sydney Pennington has posted a hit in 13 of her last 19 games, and has eight multi-hit games in that run.
- Samantha Show has logged a hit in 28 of 40 games this season and posted eight multi-hit outings.
- Samantha Show has pitched at least five innings in 15 of her 17 starts this year.
- Logan Simunek has starred against the best competition, allowing only four earned runs in 23.2 innings against top-10 ranked opposition since the start of the 2018 season.
