Oklahoma State softball secured a dominant 16-0 victory over Eastern Illinois in the NCAA Tournament, setting up a rematch against Stanford. Coach Kenny Gajewski aimed to conserve star pitcher Ruby Meylan's energy for upcoming games.
Key points
Oklahoma State softball won 16-0 against Eastern Illinois
The victory was in the NCAA Tournament's Stillwater Regional
Coach Kenny Gajewski aimed to conserve Ruby Meylan's pitching
The win sets up a rematch against Stanford
Oklahoma State softballRuby MeylanNCAA TournamentStanford
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski walked off the turf of Cowgirl Stadium on Friday with some extra bullets in his pocket.
Gajewski said Thursday he wanted to “save every bullet that I can out of her,” in hopes of keeping his ace as fresh as possible for Saturday and Sunday. And the offense helped make that happen.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) celebrates of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Q&A
What was the score of the Oklahoma State softball game against Eastern Illinois?
Oklahoma State softball won the game against Eastern Illinois with a score of 16-0.
Who is the star pitcher for Oklahoma State softball?
The star pitcher for Oklahoma State softball is Ruby Meylan.
What is the significance of the rematch against Stanford for Oklahoma State softball?
The rematch against Stanford is significant as it follows Oklahoma State's strong performance in the NCAA Tournament and aims to advance further in the competition.
How did Oklahoma State softball perform in the Stillwater Regional?
Oklahoma State softball performed exceptionally well in the Stillwater Regional, achieving a run-rule victory in their opening game.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) celebrates after hitting a home run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) slides home to score a run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) celebrates with coach Kenny Gajewski after hitting a home run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates with infielder Aubrey Jones (7) after scoring a run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski celebrates with Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Lexi McDonald (31) in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) pitches the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) celebrates during the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates as she steps on home after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
1 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) celebrates of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
1 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) celebrates of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
2 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) celebrates after hitting a home run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
3 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) slides home to score a run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
4 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) celebrates with coach Kenny Gajewski after hitting a home run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
5 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
6 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates with infielder Aubrey Jones (7) after scoring a run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
7 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski celebrates with Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Lexi McDonald (31) in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026.
8 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) pitches the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
9 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) celebrates during the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
10 / 10
Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Eastern Illinois Panthers in NCAA softball tournament
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates as she steps on home after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Meylan will most certainly be back in the circle when OSU takes on 20th-seeded Stanford in the winner’s bracket final at noon Saturday.
But getting her some work Friday might’ve been more important than anticipated.
“It looked like she was a hair rusty after not throwing for a week,” Gajewski said. “I think it was good for her. She needed to throw in this first game. Too many pitches, too many full counts.
“She wasn’t as sharp. The ball wasn’t jumping until late in the second inning, it started to really go.”
Meylan threw 44 pitches, needing 27 to get out of the first inning, but didn’t allow a hit. Senior RyLee Crandall earned the pitching victory with three shutout innings to end the game.
“It’s a new season,” Gajewski said. “That’s all you can go off of, and she looked like a different kid here today.”
Middle of order powers blowout
Starting with No. 2 hitter Karli Godwin, who got the Cowgirls on the board with a 276-foot home run in the bottom of the first inning, the heart of OSU’s lineup did just about all the damage it could.
Godwin, Rosie Davis, Lexi McDonald and Amanda Hasler — the 2-5 hitters in the order — combined to go 11 for 12 with three doubles, two home runs, four walks, seven RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Godwin’s first-inning missile that cleared the decks in left-center field was exactly the ammunition the Cowgirls needed to get their day started.
“It was freakin’ awesome,” said Hasler, who hit a 252-foot homer in the second inning. “I feel like every time you see her get up to bat, you feel like, welp, she’s about to hit a bomb. She did just that, and I feel like it being the first pitch, we felt like, yeah, we got this in the bag.”
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) celebrates with coach Kenny Gajewski after hitting a home run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) celebrates with coach Kenny Gajewski after hitting a home run in the first inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Several Cowgirl reserves play
The final OSU scorecard included 18 names, with 16 hitters and two pitchers seeing the field Friday.
Some only entered as pinch-runners, though multiple reserves got at-bats as well.
That allowed Gajewski to get some rest for senior Audrey Schneidmiller, who has been the team’s everyday catcher for most of the season. Schneidmiller had an RBI single and pushed in another run when she reached on an error before exiting.
Freshman Jayelle Austin, who has been a regular starter in center field recently, didn’t start because Tia Warsop returned from injury and Gajewski opted for the more dangerous offensive lineup with hot-hitting Madison Hoffman in the outfield over Austin.
But she took advantage of her opportunity when she got in, going 1 for 2 with two RBIs and two stolen bases.
Gajewski also got plate appearances for young players like LIbby Jaques, Montgomery Henderson, Gabby Castillo and Jayden Jones.
“We love it,” McDonald said of seeing the reserves get in during such a meaningful game. “They work their butt off just like everyone else every day and it’s absolutely awesome to see them go out and compete, because they’re really good players.
“They just happen to be on a freakin’ talented team. So it’s really cool.”
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls catcher Amanda Hasler (3) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Stillwater NCAA Softball Regional between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and Eastern Illinois in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, May 15, 2026. Oklahoma State won 16-0.
Rematch from February on tap
OSU and Stanford have played twice this season, with Stanford winning 4-2 and 10-0 on its home field in the first week of the regular season.
Obviously, a lot has changed since then. And one big difference, Gajewski says, will be his team’s preparedness for sophomore left-hander Zoe Prystajko.
She allowed two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts over 5 ⅔ innings in Stanford’s 4-2 win in the season opener. Prystajko pitched Friday, but only recorded one out.
“They’re really good. They have a unique team,” Gajewski said. “When we faced them early in the year, we had a really bad scout, to be very frank. She was all rise last year, and then over the offseason, somebody taught her a drop ball and it was disgusting. We had zero shot. We’ll be a little bit more prepared here tomorrow.
“But we’re still gonna have to be good, because she’s good. And they have a staff. They got three or four kids they can run out there. I’m a big fan of (Stanford coach Jessica Allister). I always have been.”
