The Cowgirls Set to Open Big 12 Softball Tourney with Texas

Here is a preview in notes form from Oklahoma State Athletic Media Relations contact Megan Fisher:

NSHF

Softball Hall of Fame Stadium

The Basics

After placing second in the Big 12 regular season standings, the Oklahoma State softball team (40-8 overall) heads to Oklahoma City for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. OSU plays Texas and Iowa State in Pool B on Friday, May 14.

Watch, Listen, Follow

Friday’s game against Texas will be live on ESPNU, and the matchup with Iowa State will stream live on ESPN+. Saturday’s opponent and television information is still to be determined. Fans can follow live stats at statbroadcast.com and can keep up with the action live on @CowgirlSB Twitter.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

OSU head coach Kenny Gajewski

In the Rankings

Oklahoma State checks in at No. 9 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and No. 7 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25. 

Texas is ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and No. 13 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25. Iowa State does not appear in this week’s polls.

Oklahoma State from a Distance

Oklahoma State has 12 run-rule victories this season and is outscoring its opponents, 300-114. The Cowgirl pitching staff is led by Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Carrie Eberle and fellow first-team All-Big 12 selection Kelly Maxwell. The duo sports a combined 33-5 record this season. Senior Logan Simunek is the first pitcher in relief. First-team All-Big 12 selections Hayley Busby and Kiley Naomi are formidable weapons in the lineup, with second-team all-conference honorees Chelsea Alexander, Chyenne Factor and Alysen Febrey also crucial pieces to the Cowgirls’ success this season.

Conference Tournament History

Oklahoma State is 61-48 all-time in conference tournament play. The Cowgirls have never won the Big 12 Tournament, but were six-time champions of the Big Eight Tournament, taking the title in 1980, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. OSU has won four of its last five games at the Big 12 Tournament and under coach Kenny Gajewski, the Cowgirls are 6-2 at the event.

Notable Streaks and Trends

Oklahoma State went 15-3 in conference play this year for its best showing of the Big 12 era (1996-present). 15 conference victories ties for second in school history. The Cowgirls of 1993 went 16-2 en route to winning the Big Eight regular season crown.

The Cowgirls have won eight of 11 games against ranked opponents this season. Of those eight wins, five came over teams ranked in the top 10. Dating back to last season, OSU has won 11 of its last 15 against ranked opponents.

The Cowgirls have won 52 of their last 60 games overall, dating back to last season.

Dating back to April 3, 2019, the Cowgirls are 58-6 in all games played against unranked opponents.

OSU has won 33 of its last 37 games at Cowgirl Stadium dating back to the 2019 season.

Dating back to April 10, 2018, the Cowgirls have won 41 of 43 home games played against unranked opponents.

OSU has committed zero errors in 15 of its last 22 games.

Oklahoma State has hit 26 home runs in its last 13 games, has at least one home run in each of the last nine contests and in 24 of its last 26.

Oklahoma State is undefeated this season when leading after four innings (35-0).

Oklahoma State Athletics

Carrie Eberle

The Cowgirl pitching staff has 16 shutouts this season - a mark that is eighth in the nation.

Oklahoma State ranks second in the Big 12 by limiting its opponents to a .190 batting average.

The Cowgirls have been successful in 51 of their 62 stolen base attempts this season.

Sydney Pennington has started 195 consecutive games, which amounts to every possible game of her career. She is joined by Chyenne Factor and Alysen Febrey as Cowgirls who have started every game this season.

Pennington is currently second on the OSU career home run list with 33. The record is 35 set by Tiffany Mikkelson.

Hayley Busby has recorded a hit in 23 of her last 27 games.

Jonathan Mailhes

Alysen Febrey

Alysen Febrey has a hit in 56 of her 72 games as a Cowgirl, including in 38 of 48 games this season.

Febrey has recorded a team-leading 20 multiple hit games and 12 multiple RBI games.

The Cowgirls have been ranked in the NFCA poll in each of their last 134 games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.

Series History vs. This Week’s Opponents

Texas leads the overall series against Oklahoma State, 35-25. Oklahoma State leads the overall series against Iowa State, 76-23. The Cowgirls swept both Texas and Iowa State in the regular season. Head coach Kenny Gajewski is 11-5 against Texas and 16-2 against Iowa State in his career.