Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
UCLA
Cowgirl Softball stays on the road for Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational
February 12, 2025 | Cowgirl Softball
The Basics
The No. 9/10 Oklahoma State softball team (2-2 overall) continues its 50th anniversary season with five games in three days at the premier Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. The Cowgirls begin the tournament with a top-10 showdown against No. 4/4 UCLA (5-0 overall), followed by games against No. 23/24 Kentucky (4-1 overall), No. 5/5 Texas A&M (5-0 overall), RV/RV Auburn (5-0 overall) and No. 14/12 Alabama (4-1 overall).
Watch, Listen, Follow
Each of the Cowgirls' five contests at the 2025 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational can be seen on the ESPN family of networks or ESPN+. OSU earned the national spotlight for three of its five games, with the Pokes set to take on UCLA and Texas A&M on ESPN2, while the tournament finale against Alabama will be televised on ESPN. All but one of OSU's games can be heard live on KGFY FM 105.5 (Saturday against Auburn can be heard on KVRO-FM 101.1) and stillwaterradio.net and streamed on the Varsity Network app with Ryan Breeden on the call. Live stats for all of OSU's games are available online at okstate.statbroadcast.com. Fans can follow @CowgirlSB on X all season for regular coverage and updates, including a live scoreboard.
In The Rankings
Oklahoma State remains a consensus top-10 team after the first week of competition, with the Cowgirls sitting at No. 9 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll and No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. Softball America has the Pokes at No. 9 and D1Softball has the Cowgirls at No. 9. In a vote by the Big 12's head coaches, Oklahoma State was picked to win the league for the first time in program history.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Two-thirds of last year's team returns from a group that achieved a Kenny Gajewski-era best 49 wins and reached the program's fifth consecutive Women's College World Series. Key returners in the field include sophomores Rosie Davis and Karli Godwin, juniors Tallen Edwards, Claire Timm and Micaela Wark along with senior Megan Bloodworth. In the circle, the Cowgirls welcome back junior Kyra Aycock and sophomore Katie Kutz. Oklahoma State boasts the second-ranked transfer class in the nation according to Softball America with a haul that includes 2023 All-Big 12 honoree RyLee Crandall, 2024 NFCA Golden Shoe recipient Megan Delgadillo, powerful NC State transfer Amanda Hasler, two-time All-Mountain West performer Rachael Hathoot and 2023 NFCA All-American Ruby Meylan. Freshmen Madison Hoffman and Tara Vandewater also enter the fray. Hoffman, a two-way pitcher from Lee's Summit, Mo., provides a nice complement to the staff's power, while Vandewater, the No. 10 recruit in Extra Innings Softball's Extra Elite 100, is a utility player who can slot in behind the plate or at third base.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• OSU has been ranked in the NFCA poll in each of its last 337 games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
• In its five appearances at the Clearwater Invitational since 2019, OSU is 15-8.
• Dating to last season, OSU has won six of its last 10 games against NFCA-ranked opponents.
• OSU is coming off a program record fourth-straight 40-win season in which the Cowgirls reached a Gajewski-era best 49 wins, a mark that is third in program history.
• Dating to last season, Karli Godwin has started 65 consecutive games, the longest streak on the team.
Series History
Oklahoma State and UCLA have met 17 times, with the Bruins holding a 12-5 series advantage. Most recently, the Cowgirls handed UCLA an 8-0 run-rule defeat in Los Angeles. The Cowgirls lead the series against Kentucky, 5-1, including a 6-2 victory in the 2024 NCAA Stillwater Regional. Oklahoma State and Texas A&M have a vast series history, as the former Big 12 rival holds a 52-26 lead in the series. At the 2023 TaxAct Clearwater Invitational, the Cowgirls ran out 8-0 winners. The Cowgirls have only faced off against Auburn five times, with the Tigers maintaining a 4-1 series lead. The last meeting came in 2016, which was a 6-1 loss for the Pokes. OSU trails the series against Alabama, 4-1, however coach Kenny Gajewski is 1-0 against the Tide.
