Oklahoma State softball lost 11-7 to Arizona State in the Big 12 semifinals but remains optimistic about its NCAA Tournament hosting bid. Coach Kenny Gajewski expressed confidence in the team's chances despite the defeat.
Key points
Oklahoma State lost 11-7 to Arizona State in the Big 12 semifinals.
Coach Kenny Gajewski is confident about NCAA Tournament prospects.
Arizona State will face Texas Tech in the title game.
OSU hopes for a top-16 seed and regional host berth.
âWe get an extra day of rest,â said OSU coach Kenny Gajewski, turning his focus to the brighter side after his team suffered just its fifth loss in the last 26 games.
Fifth-seeded Arizona State will be back in action at 11 a.m. Saturday against No. 1 Texas Tech in the title game. Meanwhile, OSU will be recovering and waiting to learn its NCAA Tournament seed, hoping it has accomplished enough to earn a top-16 seed and regional host berth.
âIâm not nervous at all,â Gajewski said. âNot at all. I was nervous my first year, when we were 29-26. We played, like, a top-10 schedule. I was nervous then because I didnât know. But I already know that weâre in a great spot.
âOn Sunday, weâll know, and look, if we donât host, Iâll be OK. The sun will rise and weâll go wherever it is and weâll go play well. Weâve already played a schedule on the road, so the road is not gonna be a bad place for us at any point.â
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) exits the game in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Arizona State Sun Devils infielder Yazzy Avila (33) celebrates after scoring a run in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Kaylee Pond (42) celebrates at second base beside Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) in the first inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Claire Timm (18) chases after the ball in the first inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Aubrey Jones (7) fields the ball in the first inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls outfielder Jayelle Austin (34) chases after the ball in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) stands in the pitchers circle in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Tanya Windle (44) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
The ball gets past Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Aubrey Jones (7) on the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Kaylee Pond (42) celebrates braise Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Lexi McDonald (31) at second base in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski walks on the field before a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Rosie Davis (26) catches the ball for an out in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls pitcher Rylee Crandall (4) pitches during a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) exits the game in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) exits the game in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Arizona State Sun Devils infielder Yazzy Avila (33) celebrates after scoring a run in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Kaylee Pond (42) celebrates at second base beside Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) in the first inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Claire Timm (18) chases after the ball in the first inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Aubrey Jones (7) fields the ball in the first inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls outfielder Jayelle Austin (34) chases after the ball in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls pitcher Ruby Meylan (66) stands in the pitchers circle in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Tanya Windle (44) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
The ball gets past Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Aubrey Jones (7) on the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Arizona State Sun Devils outfielder Kaylee Pond (42) celebrates braise Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Lexi McDonald (31) at second base in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski walks on the field before a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Rosie Davis (26) catches the ball for an out in the second inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Arizona State Sun Devils Big 12 softball tournament photos
Oklahoma State Cowgirls pitcher Rylee Crandall (4) pitches during a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Ruby Meylanâs âball was flatâ
Pregame warmups werenât sharp for Meylan, and that carried over into the game, where she worked around a first-inning double before the wheels came off in the second.
Three singles, a hit batter and some defensive miscues allowed two runs to score, setting the stage for a three-run homer by Tanya Windle. Then two errors and a double brought in another run.
âRubyâs ball was flat,â Gajewski said of his ace pitcher. âIt just wasnât jumping like it has been. Her warmup was terrible. That doesnât always mean stuff, but (pitching coach Carrie Eberle Parker) walked in and said âMan, the warmup was not good.â
âI didnât expect that. I donât think anybody did, but their hitters are good.â
It was the first time Meylan had allowed six runs in an inning all season.
RyLee Crandall retired nine batters without allowing a hit, but the Sun Devils finally dialed in on her in the top of the fifth with a pair of two-run home runs.
âIâm pissed at myself for not getting her out of there, where she couldâve left here with a little better feeling,â Gajewski said. âI was proud of her. I told her in front of the whole team, I thought she did her job. And maybe if I did my job a hair better in the fifth, I couldâve got her out of there and saved us a run or two.â
Downing gained some valuable experience on a big stage, allowing one hit with two strikeouts over two shutout innings.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) throws to first but doesnĂt get the out in the third inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls infielder Karli Godwin (14) throws to first but doesnĂt get the out in the third inning of a Big 12 softball tournament game between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Devon Park Oklahoma City, Friday, May 8, 2026. Arizona State won 11-7.
McDonald, Schneidmiller spark offense
The OSU offense came to life in the late innings as the Cowgirls tried to mount a rally with a few big hits.
But in the early going, it was first baseman Lexi McDonald and catcher Audrey Schneidmiller who carried the load.
McDonald finished the night 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run. Schneidmiller had RBI singles in her first two at-bats.
It was their efforts that kept the Cowgirls afloat when it looked like they might be destined for a run-rule loss.
âIt was just going back within ourselves,â Schneidmiller said. âNot focusing on the scoreboard, not focusing on anything thatâs going on outside of us. I think we just wanted to get hits and get things done.â
Karli Godwin, Amanda Hasler and Rosie Davis joined the party late, all coming through with big swings. Davis hit her 14th home run of the season and fourth in the last five games. It was also the 31st of her career, moving her into a tie for fifth on the OSU all-time list with Madi Sue Montgomery.
