Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Texas A&M
Cowgirl Softball Continues Season Opening Road Trip At TaxAct Clearwater Invitational
February 15, 2023 | Cowgirl Softball
The Basics
The No. 5/5Â Oklahoma State softball team is set to participate in the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational from February 16-18 in Clearwater, Florida.
The Pokes kick things off with No. NR/RV Texas A&M on Thursday at 9 a.m. CT before taking on RV/RV Nebraska at 3 p.m. CT that same day. On Friday, the Cowgirls play No. 8/9 Virginia Tech at 9 a.m. CT. Wrapping up their time in the Sunshine State on Saturday, OSU faces No. RV/22 Louisiana at 9:30 a.m. CT and No. 25/RV Michigan at 12:30 p.m. CT.
Watch, Listen, Follow
Each of Oklahoma State's games at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational will be available on the ESPN family of networks.Â
Oklahoma State's games against Texas A&M and Virginia Tech can be seen on ESPNU with Tiffany Greene and Madison Shipman on the call. Mark Neely and Danielle Lawrie will call the Cowgirls' games against Nebraska, Louisiana and Michigan, all of which are set to be streamed on ESPN+.
Live stats for all of OSU's games over the weekend will be available online at statbroadcast.com.
Fans can follow @cowgirlsb on Twitter all season for regular coverage and updates
In The Rankings
As of February 13, Oklahoma State ranks:
- No. 5 in the USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coaches Poll
- No. 5 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
- No. 5 in the Softball America NCAA Division I Softball Top 25
- No. 5 in the D1Softball Top 25
Oklahoma State From a Distance
Six starters are back from a 2022 team that put together a 40 win season, which ended at the Women's College World Series for an NCAA era program record third consecutive year. Five of OSU's returning starters were also starters on the Cowgirls' 2021 WCWS team and two of them started for OSU during its 2019 WCWS appearance.Â
Returning for the Cowgirls are All-Americans Kelly Maxwell and Katelynn Carwile, as well as a pair of graduate veterans and All-Big 12 regulars Chyenne Factor and Kiley Naomi.Impact newcomers include two-time All-Big Ten honoree and All-American infielder Rachel Becker, All-SEC Newcomer and All-Region pitcher Lexi Kilyfoyl and 2022 NFCA DI Freshman of the Year finalist Megan Bloodworth.Â
A talented freshman class – including six members of the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 – enter the mix. Tallen Edwards (No. 3 overall), Haidyn Sokoloski (No. 17 overall) and Kyra Aycock (No. 26 overall) are all likely candidates to see meaningful playing time in their first year with the Cowgirls. Angelina Craig, Katie Lott, Lexi McDonald and Claire Timm round out the 20th ranked signing class in the country, per Extra Inning Softball.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• OSU has been ranked in the NFCA poll in each of their past 207 games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
• OSU has compiled a 17-13 record at the Clearwater Invitational Tournament dating back to Kenny Gajewski's first year as the head coach of the Cowgirls in 2016.
• OSU has tallied at least five hits in each of its last four games.
• OSU has batted in at least three runs in each of its last four games.
• OSU has shutout two of its last four opponents.
• OSU has collected double-digit strikeouts in two of its last four contests.
Series History
OSU and former Big 12 Conference for Texas A&M have met 77 times dating back to 1978; the Aggies hold the series lead, 52-25. Last time out against TAMU, the Pokes claimed a pair of victories in College Station on February 25 and 27 in 2022.
Against Nebraska – another former member of the Big 12 Conference – Oklahoma State holds a narrow 49-48 series lead. The only meeting between the two teams during the Gajewski era came a season ago when the Cowgirls earned a 7-4 win over the Cornhuskers en route to a sweep of the 2022 NCAA Stillwater Regional.
OSU and Virginia Tech are tied in their all-time series history at two apiece. Gajewski's only meeting with the Hokies as head coach of the Cowgirls came in 2020; the Cowgirls emerged victorious, 14-6.
The Pokes hold a 7-5 lead in their series history with both Louisiana and Michigan.
Strength Of Schedule
The Cowgirls are scheduled to play 26 games against teams that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament, including 15 contests against seven 2022 conference champions: Central Florida (American), Florida State (ACC), North Texas (C-USA), Nebraska (Big Ten), Arizona State (Pac-12), South Dakota State (Summit League) and Louisiana (Sun Belt).
2022 NCAA Super Regional participants Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia Tech are also on the slate, as are NCAA Tournament participants Michigan, Ole Miss, Wichita State, Oregon, Florida State, Missouri, Louisiana, Nebraksa and North Texas.
All-American Duo
A pair of returning All-Americans headline an Oklahoma State roster loaded with talent.Â
No other pitcher on roster, or in the country for that matter, is as highly anticipated as reigning Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and unanimous first team All-American Kelly Maxwell.
Her 10.28 strikeouts per seven innings is atop Oklahoma State's career list; she ranks among the top-10 of the program's career lists in winning percentage (.763), shutouts (24) and strikeouts (517). Aside from the solo perfect game she pitched in her collegiate debut in 2020, she combined with Carrie Eberle for the first combined perfect game in school history in 2021.Â
In total, she's responsible for five no-hitters in her OSU career. 2022 was Maxwell's first season as the leader of the Oklahoma State pitching staff and she took full advantage. She posted a 21-5 record and a 1.22 season ERA with 20 complete-game performances, 12 shutouts and 313 strikeouts, making her just one of three OSU pitchers to amass 300+ in a single season.
A familiar face in Katelynn Carwile returns as the starter in right field and a fixture in the top half of the OSU batting order. She quickly became one of the Cowgirls' top offensive weapons in 2022 after earning the first start of her collegiate career in February.
A year ago, Carwile totaled 31 runs scored, 54 hits, 14 doubles, seven home runs and 33 RBI. With plenty of reason to believe she can produce at the same pace, Carwile has the chance to elevate her name into program record books in 2023.
Fresh Faces In New Places
With the graduation of All-Americans Sydney Pennington, Hayley Busby and Miranda Elish, the Cowgirls undoubtedly lost veteran leadership. Nonetheless, head coach Kenny Gajewski has refreshed the group with a talented mix of high-profile transfers and promising freshmen.
All-American Rachel Becker comes to Stillwater after garnering back-to-back first team All-Big Ten honors in her final two years at Purdue. Former Alabama infielder Megan Bloodworth has proven her ability to compete at a high level after starting her career in the SEC. Senior pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, also an Alabama transfer, is the likeliest candidate to alternate starts in the circle with Maxwell.Â
A handful of freshmen also have a chance to make an immediate impact in their first season with OSU. Tallen Edwards has personified utility since arriving in Stillwater and can fit well into any lineup. Behind Maxwell and Kilfoyl, Kyra Aycock has proven she's a reliable option in relief. Haidyn Sokoloski's athleticism has suited her well as she's developed into a capable option in the field or on the basepaths.
