Oklahoma State University Athletics
Wednesday, March 9
Stillwater, OK
7 P.M. CT
Oklahoma State University
vs
Minnesota
OSU Softball Prepares for Minnesota and Memphis Tournament
March 08, 2022 | Cowgirl Softball
The Basics
The No. 10/10 Oklahoma State softball team (12-5) finishes out its first homestand of 2022 with Minnesota on March 9 then hits the road to compete in the Memphis Tournament from March 11-12.
The Cowgirls will resume their game with Minnesota that was called off due to weather on Sunday; the suspended game – slated for 5 p.m. CT Wednesday – will begin in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded, nobody out and Minnesota in the lead, 2-1. The regularly scheduled midweek contest with the Golden Gophers will immediately follow.
OSU opens its trip to Tennessee with games against Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. and tournament host Memphis at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The Cowgirls wrap up their busy week with South Dakota at 1 p.m. and Southeastern Louisiana at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Watch, Listen, Follow
Oklahoma State's games Minnesota on Wednesday can be streamed on ESPN+ with Casey Kendrick and Alison McCutcheon on the call.
OSU's games with Minnesota can be heard on Stillwater Radio Networks atÂ
stillwaterradio.net and 105.5 KGFY on the dial with Bill Van Ness. At the Memphis Tournament, Brodie Myers is on the call with Stillwater Radio; channel designations will be announced once they're available.
Live stats for all of OSU's games over the weekend will be available online on okstate.statbroadcast.com. Fans can follow @CowgirlSB on Twitter all season for regular coverage and updates.
In the Rankings
As of March 7, Oklahoma State ranks:
• No. 2 in NCAA DI Strength of Schedule
• No. 6 in NCAA DI Rating Percentage Index
• No. 10 in the USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coach Poll
• No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
• No. 12 in D1Softball's Top 25
• No. 13 in SoftballAmerica's NCAA Division I Softball Top 25
Oklahoma State From a Distance
Eight starters and several other important performers are back from the 2021 team that finished No. 6 in the final rankings and played in the Women's College World Series. Five of OSU's returning starters
were also starters on the Cowgirls' 2019 WCWS team.Â
Some of the most decorated players in Oklahoma State softball history are back, including returning All-Americans Hayley Busby and Sydney Pennington, plus 2022 preseason All-American Kiley Naomi. Pitcher Kelly Maxwell is on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List and was invited to try out for a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team in January.
Impact newcomers include the 2020 Shortened Season National Player of the Year and first team All-American Miranda Elish, 2022 preseason All-America first baseman Morgyn Wynne, 2021 first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference pitcher Morgan Day and 2021 All-Southeast Region catcher Julia Cottrill.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• The Cowgirls have been ranked in the NFCA poll in each of their last 161 games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
• Sydney Pennington has started 224 consecutive games, which amounts to every game of her career.
• Kelly Maxwell has tallied double digit strikeouts in four of her last seven games played.
• Kelly Maxwell has complete game wins in each of her last three starts.
• OSU has outscored its last eight opponents, 32-10.
• OSU has held four of its last eight opponents scoreless.
• OSU has tallied five or more hits in seven of its last nine games.
Series History vs. This Week's Opponents
OSU leads its series with Minnesota, 9-6, including a 2-1 record in home contests.
Oklahoma State is undefeated all-time against the opponents its set to face this weekend: Central Arkansas (9-0), Memphis (1-0), South Dakota (2-0) and Southeastern Louisiana (1-0).
At the reigns of Cowgirl softball, Kenny Gajewski boasts winning records against every opponent the Pokes face this week aside from Southeastern Louisiana, which he will meet for the first time in his head coaching career Saturday.
Team and Player Notes
Heating Up
After her first career start at the Reveille Classic in week three, sophomore Katelynn Carwile earned herself a spot in the OSU lineup in its first home tournament of the early season.Â
Carwile led all Cowgirls who tallied double digit at bats in average (.417), slugging percentage (.583), and on base percentage (.417).Â
Through three games and four innings of a game with Minnesota suspended due to weather, Carwile was the club leader in hits (five), and tied first in RBI (three) and doubles (two).
Day and Night
Morgan Day was the highlight of the Cowgirls' weekend in the circle.
Getting the nod for her fourth start of the season against DePaul on March 6, Day fanned a total of 16 batters, two shy of her career best and the most by a Cowgirl since Jessica Hoppock racked up 17 against Central Arkansas in 2007.
Her outing landed her the first Big 12 Conference award of her collegiate career as she was named Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week alongside Baylor's Kaci West.
New Faces In The Right Places
Through the first weeks of the young 2022 season, a handful of newcomers have been among the most productive at the plate.
Leading the Cowgirls through the first 17 contests is Julia Cottrill. The former Florida Gator has had her name called for 10 starts at catcher, but when not behind the dish, she's likely to remain in the lineup as the Cowgirls' designated player. As the team leader in average (.350), slugging percentage (.725) and on base percentage (.440), Cottrill has successfully translated her experience as an SEC starter to success with an Oklahoma State team whose strength of schedule ranks second in the country.
Not far behind Cottrill is Brianna Evans. The freshman out of Red Oak, Texas was named a day one starter at second base and a fixture in the top half of OSU's lineup before a minor injury kept her from competition in week three.Â
Regardless, Evans has made the most of her limited at bats. She boasts a .333 average with four runs scored, nine hits – including two doubles – and a .400 on base percentage, which fifth among her teammates.
To The Max
Kelly Maxwell has proven why she's among the best arms in the country. The lefty has tallied a 6-0 record through the season's first four weeks. With an ERA at 0.48 – 10th in the country and second among pitchers with 40+ innings pitced – three earned runs allowed and 75 strikeouts, Maxwell has performed to her All-America potential, including a one-hit victory over No. 19/16 Michigan and complete game shuouts wins against Texas A&M and Tennessee State.Â
In The Works
Cowgirl Stadium features some notable updates for the 2022 season. Along with newly constructed, padded and decorated outfield and backstop walls, the Cowgirls' home field also features a new artificial outfield playing surface, updated scoreboard and batter's eye structures and additional observation decks beyond the right field wall to accommodate Oklahoma State's growing fan base.
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The No. 10/10 Oklahoma State softball team (12-5) finishes out its first homestand of 2022 with Minnesota on March 9 then hits the road to compete in the Memphis Tournament from March 11-12.
The Cowgirls will resume their game with Minnesota that was called off due to weather on Sunday; the suspended game – slated for 5 p.m. CT Wednesday – will begin in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded, nobody out and Minnesota in the lead, 2-1. The regularly scheduled midweek contest with the Golden Gophers will immediately follow.
OSU opens its trip to Tennessee with games against Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. and tournament host Memphis at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The Cowgirls wrap up their busy week with South Dakota at 1 p.m. and Southeastern Louisiana at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Watch, Listen, Follow
Oklahoma State's games Minnesota on Wednesday can be streamed on ESPN+ with Casey Kendrick and Alison McCutcheon on the call.
OSU's games with Minnesota can be heard on Stillwater Radio Networks atÂ
stillwaterradio.net and 105.5 KGFY on the dial with Bill Van Ness. At the Memphis Tournament, Brodie Myers is on the call with Stillwater Radio; channel designations will be announced once they're available.
Live stats for all of OSU's games over the weekend will be available online on okstate.statbroadcast.com. Fans can follow @CowgirlSB on Twitter all season for regular coverage and updates.
In the Rankings
As of March 7, Oklahoma State ranks:
• No. 2 in NCAA DI Strength of Schedule
• No. 6 in NCAA DI Rating Percentage Index
• No. 10 in the USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coach Poll
• No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
• No. 12 in D1Softball's Top 25
• No. 13 in SoftballAmerica's NCAA Division I Softball Top 25
Oklahoma State From a Distance
Eight starters and several other important performers are back from the 2021 team that finished No. 6 in the final rankings and played in the Women's College World Series. Five of OSU's returning starters
were also starters on the Cowgirls' 2019 WCWS team.Â
Some of the most decorated players in Oklahoma State softball history are back, including returning All-Americans Hayley Busby and Sydney Pennington, plus 2022 preseason All-American Kiley Naomi. Pitcher Kelly Maxwell is on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List and was invited to try out for a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team in January.
Impact newcomers include the 2020 Shortened Season National Player of the Year and first team All-American Miranda Elish, 2022 preseason All-America first baseman Morgyn Wynne, 2021 first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference pitcher Morgan Day and 2021 All-Southeast Region catcher Julia Cottrill.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• The Cowgirls have been ranked in the NFCA poll in each of their last 161 games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
• Sydney Pennington has started 224 consecutive games, which amounts to every game of her career.
• Kelly Maxwell has tallied double digit strikeouts in four of her last seven games played.
• Kelly Maxwell has complete game wins in each of her last three starts.
• OSU has outscored its last eight opponents, 32-10.
• OSU has held four of its last eight opponents scoreless.
• OSU has tallied five or more hits in seven of its last nine games.
Series History vs. This Week's Opponents
OSU leads its series with Minnesota, 9-6, including a 2-1 record in home contests.
Oklahoma State is undefeated all-time against the opponents its set to face this weekend: Central Arkansas (9-0), Memphis (1-0), South Dakota (2-0) and Southeastern Louisiana (1-0).
At the reigns of Cowgirl softball, Kenny Gajewski boasts winning records against every opponent the Pokes face this week aside from Southeastern Louisiana, which he will meet for the first time in his head coaching career Saturday.
Team and Player Notes
Heating Up
After her first career start at the Reveille Classic in week three, sophomore Katelynn Carwile earned herself a spot in the OSU lineup in its first home tournament of the early season.Â
Carwile led all Cowgirls who tallied double digit at bats in average (.417), slugging percentage (.583), and on base percentage (.417).Â
Through three games and four innings of a game with Minnesota suspended due to weather, Carwile was the club leader in hits (five), and tied first in RBI (three) and doubles (two).
Day and Night
Morgan Day was the highlight of the Cowgirls' weekend in the circle.
Getting the nod for her fourth start of the season against DePaul on March 6, Day fanned a total of 16 batters, two shy of her career best and the most by a Cowgirl since Jessica Hoppock racked up 17 against Central Arkansas in 2007.
Her outing landed her the first Big 12 Conference award of her collegiate career as she was named Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week alongside Baylor's Kaci West.
New Faces In The Right Places
Through the first weeks of the young 2022 season, a handful of newcomers have been among the most productive at the plate.
Leading the Cowgirls through the first 17 contests is Julia Cottrill. The former Florida Gator has had her name called for 10 starts at catcher, but when not behind the dish, she's likely to remain in the lineup as the Cowgirls' designated player. As the team leader in average (.350), slugging percentage (.725) and on base percentage (.440), Cottrill has successfully translated her experience as an SEC starter to success with an Oklahoma State team whose strength of schedule ranks second in the country.
Not far behind Cottrill is Brianna Evans. The freshman out of Red Oak, Texas was named a day one starter at second base and a fixture in the top half of OSU's lineup before a minor injury kept her from competition in week three.Â
Regardless, Evans has made the most of her limited at bats. She boasts a .333 average with four runs scored, nine hits – including two doubles – and a .400 on base percentage, which fifth among her teammates.
To The Max
Kelly Maxwell has proven why she's among the best arms in the country. The lefty has tallied a 6-0 record through the season's first four weeks. With an ERA at 0.48 – 10th in the country and second among pitchers with 40+ innings pitced – three earned runs allowed and 75 strikeouts, Maxwell has performed to her All-America potential, including a one-hit victory over No. 19/16 Michigan and complete game shuouts wins against Texas A&M and Tennessee State.Â
In The Works
Cowgirl Stadium features some notable updates for the 2022 season. Along with newly constructed, padded and decorated outfield and backstop walls, the Cowgirls' home field also features a new artificial outfield playing surface, updated scoreboard and batter's eye structures and additional observation decks beyond the right field wall to accommodate Oklahoma State's growing fan base.
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Players Mentioned
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