Lexi Kilfoyl Selected as Top Three Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
(Pokes Report publisher Robert Allen contributed to this story.)
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State Softball's Lexi Kilfoyl has been named a top three finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, it was announced today.
Kilfoyl is the first player in program history to be named a top three finalist for the award.
The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Kilfoyl ranks fourth in the nation in ERA (1.08) and leads the Big 12 in ERA, victories (24), and shutouts (six) while ranking second in the conference in strikeouts (140).
In the NCAA Stillwater Regional, Kilfoyl went 3-0 and maintained a 0.74 ERA in 19.0 IP as she only gave up 10 hits all weekend to go with zero walks and 21 strikeouts. In Friday's Regional opener, the graduate senior tossed five perfect innings, then retired 19-straight batters in Saturday's contest to go with a season-best 12 strikeouts. At one point during the NCAA Stillwater Regional finale on Sunday, she had retired 17-straight batters.
“The story of this weekend was Lexi (Kilfoyl),” head coach Kenny Gajewski said in the postgame. “The way she carried this team and whether she knows it or not she has been waiting for this moment.”
In addition to her impressive stats, Kilfoyl is the first Cowgirl in school history to sweep the Big 12 and NFCA Pitcher of the Week awards on three separate occasions (Feb. 27, April 2, May 7).
Kilfoyl joins Texas' Reese Atwood and Stanford's NiJaree Canady as the three finalists for the award, with the winner set to be revealed prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
After advancing from last weekend's NCAA Stillwater Regional, Kilfoyl and the Cowgirls are set to host Arizona in the 2024 NCAA Stillwater Super Regional this weekend. Game one is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, May 26 at Cowgirl Stadium, with game two at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 27. The start time for Sunday's if-necessary game is set to be determined.