Oklahoma State Softball Set for Regional Play In Fayetteville

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State softball is in Fayetteville, AR, for the Cowgirls’ first NCAA Regional appearance outside of Stillwater for the first time since 2018. They open play up against Indiana on Friday at 3 p.m., with the game being televised on ESPN2. 

First on the docket for the Pokes is the Indiana Hoosiers, who’s sitting at 33-18 overall, 10-12 in Big Ten play. They have the best batting average in the nation as they enter the tournament hitting .368. 

They also rank first with an on-base percentage of .457 and sixth with a .613 slugging percentage.

Needless to say, the Hoosiers know how to get on base, and they’re led by Taylor Minnick, who’s hitting an impressive .470 on the season. She’s also slugging .973 and gets on base nearly 60% of the time. 

But Cowgirl pitcher Ruby Meylan is no stranger to facing talented hitters, and she’s having a great season herself. She’s 12th nationally with a 1.61 ERA and strikes out just over eight hitters per seven innings, allowing just under five hits per game.

Hitting for the Pokes is led by Tia Warsop, who’s hitting .358 on the season, but Madalyn Strader is hitting .425 for the Hoosiers, while Avery Parker and Kinsey Mitchell are hitting .401 and .400 respectively up to this point on the season.

So, Meylan will have her work cut out for her in game one, while the Cowgirls will need to get hot at the plate at the right time. They’ll have a decent chance as the Hoosiers are led by pitcher Jenae Berry, who’s sitting with a 4.22 ERA across 23 appearances, with 35 strikeouts and 26 walks.