Season Preview: Back to the Standard

February 03, 2026 | Cowgirl Softball

2026 Cowgirl Softball Media Guide

After missing out on the Women's College World Series for the first time since 2018 last season, the Oklahoma State softball team enters 2026 with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose. 11th-year head coach Kenny Gajewski and his staff set out to restore the standards that were in place as his program rose to national prominence. Standards that saw his program reach new heights, such as:

Becoming one of seven programs in the NCAA era to reach five consecutive WCWS.
Leading the Big 12 in wins since 2021 (227), a mark that is seventh nationally.
Finishing with a final national ranking of No. 6 or better in five of the last seven seasons.
Totaling 19 All-America honors, 39 All-Region honors and 37 All-Big 12 honors since 2019.

Featuring 11 returners, including two-time NFCA All-American Ruby Meylan and the dynamic duo of Rosie Davis and Karli Godwin, and 11 newcomers, Gajewski is confident this group can return to the Cowgirl Way.

A sense of relentlessness, excellence and passion has been renewed within the walls of Cowgirl Stadium, and the 2026 Cowgirls are determined to reestablish Oklahoma State as a name synonymous with Oklahoma City.

The Schedule

Gajewski is known for crafting tough schedules, and this year is no exception. Over 60% of OSU's games (34 of 53 scheduled contests) come against opponents who finished last season inside the Top 75 of the RPI, and the Cowgirls face off against 15 NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.

The Cowgirls open the 2026 campaign in Palo Alto, California, for the Stanford Invitational from February 5-7, where they'll match up against Stanford (twice), San Jose State and California (twice). OSU and Stanford's season opening contest will mark the grand opening of the Stanford Softball Stadium.

Oklahoma State travels across the country to return to one of the most anticipated tournaments of the season, the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. The Cowgirls are slated to line up against Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, UCLA and Duke from February 12-14.

The Cowgirls head to San Marcos, Texas, for the first time since 2010 for the River State Classic hosted by Texas State. The Pokes are set to face Kansas City, Texas State, Brown (twice) and Colorado State from February 19-21.

OSU returns home to kickstart an 11-game homestand with the OSU/Tulsa Invitational from February 26-March 1, highlighted by a three-game set against 2025 NCAA Super Regional Finalist Nebraska. The Cowgirls also match up against Southeast Missouri and South Dakota State in the competition before a midweek contest against Missouri State on March 4.

Oklahoma State's remaining non-conference schedule is headlined by midweek contests on the road at Grand Canyon (March 17) and Texas (April 22) along with a neutral site matchup against Oklahoma in OKC on April 15. Home-and-home series with Wichita State and Tulsa round out the rest of the non-conference slate.

The full Big 12 Conference slate features three-game sets against UCF, BYU, Arizona and Kansas in Stillwater, while OSU travels to Arizona State, Utah, Iowa State and Baylor. Conference play concludes with the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City from May 7-9, and for the first time, includes eight of the Big 12's 11 teams.

Position Breakdown

Pitcher

Third-year pitching coach Carrie Eberle Parker leads a group of five arms that she's confident can bring OSU back to Oklahoma City.

Ruby Meylan is the undeniable ace of the staff and is one of the most reliable arms in college softball. Meylan is joined by returners RyLee Crandall and Madison Hoffman, along with freshmen Preslee Downing and Makala Smith. Unfortunately, Smith is expected to miss the entire season recovering from injury.

Meylan - an NFCA All-American a year ago and unanimous preseason All-American in 2026 - returns for her senior season in Stillwater looking to cement her place among the game's elite. Meylan enjoyed the best statistical season of her career last year that saw her post a 21-10 record with a 1.81 ERA in 209 innings pitched with 238 strikeouts - a mark that is ninth on OSU's single-season list. The Omaha, Nebraska, native finished as one of just 10 pitchers nationally to record at least 20 wins while surpassing 200 innings pitched. Her ability to command the strike zone and compete deep into games provides Oklahoma State with a proven ace capable of matching up with anyone in the country.

Behind Meylan, Crandall will also feature prominently. After battling injury for most of the season last year, she focused on getting healthy in the offseason and steadily improved throughout the fall campaign. The former Baylor Bear finished 2025 with a 7-4 record and a 4.55 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched but found her stride late and was effective in the postseason.

Hoffman obtained a medical redshirt last season after tearing her ACL during the first practice back from winter break but has progressed nicely in her recovery and provides a complement to Meylan and Crandall's power.

Downing was a late addition to the freshman class but has been a pleasant surprise for Eberle Parker and is another solid option out of the bullpen. The Owasso, Oklahoma, native was named the 2025 Tulsa World All-World Player of the Year after guiding her squad to a state championship and was a three-time District 6A-1 pitcher of the year.

Catcher

Oklahoma State has consistently been steady behind the plate, which should continue this season with the veteran leadership of Amanda Hasler and Audrey Schneidmiller.

With Hasler, Gajewski and Co. seem to have struck gold out of the transfer portal once again. A unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 first team last season, she paced the team with 16 home runs, totaled five doubles and 38 RBIs. Hasler also set a new single-season slugging percentage record for a junior with a .727 mark last year. She's solidified herself as one of the top power hitters in the country with 43 career home runs and is expected to be a consistent presence in the lineup.

Schneidmiller - a five-year Cowgirl who played a role in two WCWS trips - gives OSU another capable veteran. The Burleson, Texas, native made 40 appearances last season and slashed .231/.388/.359 with 10 RBIs. Known primarily for her defense, she has improved offensively during the offseason and is a contender for serious playing time in her final season in Stillwater.

Those two are expected to split starts behind the plate. Freshman Gabby Castillo is another option, although she's likely to feature more prominently in the infield.

Infield

After returning every infield starter a year ago, fans can expect a new-look group for OSU in 2026 following Megan Bloodworth's graduation and Tallen Edwards' departure.

Karli Godwin and Rosie Davis return for the Pokes - however Davis has shifted to third base after starting the previous two years at second base. Highly touted freshman Aubrey Jones figures to fill the void the left by Bloodworth at shortstop. Her sister, Jayden Jones, and Castillo are expected to compete for playing time at second base.

Godwin enters her third season in Stillwater and has proven her ability to compete at a high level in her previous two campaigns. A back-to-back NFCA All-Region honoree, she batted .316 last season with 20 extra-base hits and 36 RBIs. She's started every game of her career at first base, and this season should be no different.

Jayden Jones transferred to Stillwater this offseason after playing her freshman season at Virginia Tech, where she made 19 starts over 26 appearances and slashed .250/.275/.500 with 15 hits and 12 RBIs. Castillo, who came into college primarily as a catcher, was tasked with learning a new position at second base and has excelled. The Richmond, Texas, native was a two-time offensive player in the year in high school and has impressive pop in her bat. The two are expected to compete for playing time as the season goes on.

At shortstop, Aubrey Jones aims to fill the gap left by Bloodworth's graduation. Jones came to Stillwater as the No. 9 recruit in her class by Extra Innings Softball and looks the part. The 2024 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year has transitioned seamlessly to life as a collegiate student-athlete and figures to have a major role in her first season in America's Brightest Orange.

Shifting to the hot corner from second base is not easy, but Davis has made the transition seem effortless. She enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in which she led the team in batting average (.369), hits (59) and RBIs (53). Coming off the best season of her young career that saw her obtain first team NFCA All-Region honors, she's taken her game to a new level this offseason and is undoubtedly one of the offensive leaders of this team.

Freshmen Montgomery Henderson and Elle McCloskey are also options in the dirt and both provide power with their bats.

Outfield

OSU's outfield could be the deepest position group of this year's team. The Cowgirls return standout performers Tia Warsop, Claire Timm and Lexi McDonald, while the group is bolstered with a strong freshman class and transfers Melina Wilkison and Kaya Booker.

Freshman Jayelle Austin has solidified her place at the heart of OSU's outfield following an impressive offseason. A four-time District 6A-1 player of the year hailing from Owasso, Oklahoma, Austin utilizes her strong build in the box and has a chance to hold down the Cowgirl centerfield for years to come.

Indiana/Ohio State transfer Wilkison seems to have cemented her spot in left field. The Greensburg, Ind., native spent last season at Indiana after three years at Ohio State, where she was a two-time NFCA All-Region honoree. Wilkison started every game for the Hoosiers in center field last season and batted .326 with 11 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs and 22 stolen bases. Gajewski is optimistic that Wilkison can add her name to the long list of successful transfers at OSU.

Warsop took full advantage of seeing regular playing time for the first time in her career last season as she led the Big 12 in batting average for a majority of the season and finished batting .348 with four doubles and three triples. One of the fastest players of the Gajewski era, she totaled 36 runs scored and was successful on all but one of her 21 stolen base attempts.

After a breakout sophomore campaign in 2024, Timm has worked to regain the form that saw her collect NFCA All-Region honors two seasons ago. She finished with a .250 batting average and notched seven runs and 10 RBIs last season.

McDonald is another candidate for significant playing time in the outfield. A four-year Cowgirl who enjoyed a strong sophomore season, she saw action in 30 contests last season and batted .216 with four RBIs.

Booker, a redshirt freshman who transferred from Georgia Tech, has impressed Gajewski with her speed and bat ability and is a contender for game time anywhere across the outfield.

Senior Macy Graf and freshman Libby Jaques are additional options. Graf is a trustworthy baserunner and defender who has a knack for drawing walks, while Jaques enters the mix as the No. 47 recruit in her class according to Softball America. A versatile athlete who has pop in her bat, Jaques was named the 2025 Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year for track and field after she set the state record in shot put.