Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bases Loaded: Cowgirls Wrap Up Regular Season
May 06, 2019 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER -Â It was a disappointing weekend for the Oklahoma State softball team in terms of on-field results, as the Pokes took a trio of losses to top-ranked Oklahoma and fell short of its goal of claiming the 2019 Big 12 regular season title.
But, in the end, the Cowgirls continued to build toward their ultimate goal - success in the postseason. They set a number of records and said 'thank you' to eight seniors who may have played their final games at Cowgirl Stadium on Sunday.
Now, we take a look back at the weekend that was, and what lies ahead for OSU this week:
FIRST BASE: Records On Top of Records
While the scoreboard didn't read in the Cowgirls' favor this weekend, there were still moments of individual brilliance that helped rewrite the OSU record book (again).
Madi Sue Montgomery was the supplier of two of those records, as she cemented her name atop the Cowgirls' list of all-time at-bats, surpassing Shanel Scott's career record. Montgomery also became the first player in school history to turn more than 40 double plays, as she was involved in a number of the Pokes' five double plays turned this weekend.
On the other side of the coin, senior Samantha Show blasted a solo home run off the scoreboard in right field of Sunday's opening game to gain sole possession of the OSU single-season home run record.
It was Show's 16th homer of the season, and it pushed her past Montgomery's school record, which she set last season.
Both Cowgirls have been instrumental in Oklahoma State's success this season, and will be relied upon heavily as postseason play looms.
SECOND BASE: Gajewski's House of Horrors
Speaking of big numbers, we almost forgot to mention the biggest number of the weekend - 1,374.
That is the number of people who attended Oklahoma State's final regular season contest and is the largest crowd on record in Cowgirl Stadium history.
It was an audience that came just one year after the Pokes held their first four-figure crowd at the 20-year old ballpark. Last year, 1,024 came out to soak up senior day at Cowgirl Stadium, and that number now looks small in comparison to Sunday's crowd.
Thirty trucks, with a number of tailgaters in each bed, lined the entirety of the outfield wall, and fans packed inside the gates of Cowgirl Stadium, filling every seat and taking up nearly every inch of standing room in the park.
It was a raucous group that truly embodied the 'rowdy' spirit that the Oklahoma State faithful have been known for in other buildings campus, such as Gallagher-Iba Arena and Boone Pickens Stadium.
GIA, in particular, has often been referred to as Gallagher's House of Horrors - a reference to the OSU wrestling program's dominance at home during Ed Gallagher's reign as coach.
A block north of GIA sits Cowgirl Stadium, built on the success of legendary softball figures Sandy Fischer, Michele Smith, Melanie Roche and others. A stadium, and a program, that once ranked as one of the nation's best is now getting back to that level.
With packed crowds at every game, coach Kenny Gajewski and his Cowgirls went 15-3 at home in 2019 - OSU's best win total at home under Gajewski, and its best winning percentage at home since going 19-3 in 2010. Before that, you have to go all the way back to 1998 to find a season where OSU won more than 15 games in Stillwater during a single season.
It's only the fifth time in school history that a Cowgirl squad has won at least 15 home games in a season.
THIRD BASE: Senior Class Send-Off
Eight seniors played their final regular season games at Cowgirl Stadium on Sunday, and afterward embarked in an emotional ceremony where they were recognized for their achievements over the past four seasons.
They have come from far and wide, with five of them joining the OSU family as a transfer and the remaining three all holding steady throughout the current coaching staff's tenure.
Taylor Lynch and Madi Sue Montgomery are the only two to have been on the OSU roster during all four seasons of Kenny Gajewski's tenure as head coach. They have been record-breaking performers during the program's reemeregence as one of the elite teams in college softball, and they along with the remaining six, will be fondly remembered by the Cowgirl faithful in the years that come.
The other six seniors that were honored were Rylee Bayless, Samantha Clakley, Mallory Goodman, Lauren Heintzelman, Elise Lebeouf and Samantha Show.
HOME PLATE: Barging Toward the Big 12 Tournament
Next up for Oklahoma State is the first of its hopefully two trips to Oklahoma City this season, as the Pokes compete in the Big 12 tournament for the third-straight season.
This year, OSU is once again the No. 2 seed and will face both Texas and Iowa State on Friday before competing in a third contest sometime Saturday. Friday's games are part of the tournament's pool play, and the winner of the group will go on to compete for the Big 12 title on Saturday, with the remaining two competing in the fifth-place and third-place games.
OSU has gone 5-1 against its Friday competition this season, as the Cowgirls swept Iowa State in Ames and took two of three from the Longhorns in Stillwater back in late March.
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But, in the end, the Cowgirls continued to build toward their ultimate goal - success in the postseason. They set a number of records and said 'thank you' to eight seniors who may have played their final games at Cowgirl Stadium on Sunday.
Now, we take a look back at the weekend that was, and what lies ahead for OSU this week:
FIRST BASE: Records On Top of Records
While the scoreboard didn't read in the Cowgirls' favor this weekend, there were still moments of individual brilliance that helped rewrite the OSU record book (again).
Madi Sue Montgomery was the supplier of two of those records, as she cemented her name atop the Cowgirls' list of all-time at-bats, surpassing Shanel Scott's career record. Montgomery also became the first player in school history to turn more than 40 double plays, as she was involved in a number of the Pokes' five double plays turned this weekend.
On the other side of the coin, senior Samantha Show blasted a solo home run off the scoreboard in right field of Sunday's opening game to gain sole possession of the OSU single-season home run record.
It was Show's 16th homer of the season, and it pushed her past Montgomery's school record, which she set last season.
Both Cowgirls have been instrumental in Oklahoma State's success this season, and will be relied upon heavily as postseason play looms.
SECOND BASE: Gajewski's House of Horrors
Speaking of big numbers, we almost forgot to mention the biggest number of the weekend - 1,374.
That is the number of people who attended Oklahoma State's final regular season contest and is the largest crowd on record in Cowgirl Stadium history.
It was an audience that came just one year after the Pokes held their first four-figure crowd at the 20-year old ballpark. Last year, 1,024 came out to soak up senior day at Cowgirl Stadium, and that number now looks small in comparison to Sunday's crowd.
Thirty trucks, with a number of tailgaters in each bed, lined the entirety of the outfield wall, and fans packed inside the gates of Cowgirl Stadium, filling every seat and taking up nearly every inch of standing room in the park.
It was a raucous group that truly embodied the 'rowdy' spirit that the Oklahoma State faithful have been known for in other buildings campus, such as Gallagher-Iba Arena and Boone Pickens Stadium.
GIA, in particular, has often been referred to as Gallagher's House of Horrors - a reference to the OSU wrestling program's dominance at home during Ed Gallagher's reign as coach.
A block north of GIA sits Cowgirl Stadium, built on the success of legendary softball figures Sandy Fischer, Michele Smith, Melanie Roche and others. A stadium, and a program, that once ranked as one of the nation's best is now getting back to that level.
With packed crowds at every game, coach Kenny Gajewski and his Cowgirls went 15-3 at home in 2019 - OSU's best win total at home under Gajewski, and its best winning percentage at home since going 19-3 in 2010. Before that, you have to go all the way back to 1998 to find a season where OSU won more than 15 games in Stillwater during a single season.
It's only the fifth time in school history that a Cowgirl squad has won at least 15 home games in a season.
THIRD BASE: Senior Class Send-Off
Eight seniors played their final regular season games at Cowgirl Stadium on Sunday, and afterward embarked in an emotional ceremony where they were recognized for their achievements over the past four seasons.
They have come from far and wide, with five of them joining the OSU family as a transfer and the remaining three all holding steady throughout the current coaching staff's tenure.
Taylor Lynch and Madi Sue Montgomery are the only two to have been on the OSU roster during all four seasons of Kenny Gajewski's tenure as head coach. They have been record-breaking performers during the program's reemeregence as one of the elite teams in college softball, and they along with the remaining six, will be fondly remembered by the Cowgirl faithful in the years that come.
The other six seniors that were honored were Rylee Bayless, Samantha Clakley, Mallory Goodman, Lauren Heintzelman, Elise Lebeouf and Samantha Show.
HOME PLATE: Barging Toward the Big 12 Tournament
Next up for Oklahoma State is the first of its hopefully two trips to Oklahoma City this season, as the Pokes compete in the Big 12 tournament for the third-straight season.
This year, OSU is once again the No. 2 seed and will face both Texas and Iowa State on Friday before competing in a third contest sometime Saturday. Friday's games are part of the tournament's pool play, and the winner of the group will go on to compete for the Big 12 title on Saturday, with the remaining two competing in the fifth-place and third-place games.
OSU has gone 5-1 against its Friday competition this season, as the Cowgirls swept Iowa State in Ames and took two of three from the Longhorns in Stillwater back in late March.
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Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
