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Oklahoma State University Softball: A Legacy of Excellence

Oklahoma State softball is celebrating its 50th anniversary season. The university fielded its first official team in 1975 - non-school sponsored teams competed before that - and the Cowgirls quickly became a power. They made the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women's World Series only two years later.

Now, 50 years later, the Cowgirls are still going strong. They've been to five consecutive Women's College World Series. They've got a fan base that regularly fills Cowgirl Stadium. They've become a power in the college softball world.

But even with the NCAA Tournament soon to get under way and attention focused on what the Cowgirls will do next, it's important to take time occasionally to stop and honor those who have come before.

Early Years and AIAW Success

Before the NCAA existed for women's sports, the Cowgirls made it to the AIWA World Series. The 1977 Oklahoma State softball team was the first Oklahoma State team to reach the Women's College World Series, going 25-13 and representing the Big Eight Conference in Omaha. The Cowgirls fell in the opening game to Kansas before rebounding to defeat Southern Illinois for the first Women's College World Series win in program history.

The 1980 Oklahoma State softball team won the Big Eight tournament title en route to a 34-20 record and second Women's College World Series qualification. In Norman, the Cowgirls rattled off two quick wins against Western Michigan and Cal Poly Pomona to move into the national quarterfinals.

Read also: Diploma Frame Styles for Oklahoma State University Diplomas

The 1981 Oklahoma State softball team was the first team in the history of the program to win 40 games in a season, going 40-16 and winning another Big Eight tournament title. At the program's third Women's College World Series, the Cowgirls opened with a win over Michigan State before being defeated by Missouri.

The 1982 Oklahoma State softball team qualified for both the AIAW Women's College World Series and the NCAA Women's College World Series with a 35-19 record. In Norman for the program's fourth Women's College World Series trip, the Cowgirls cruised through the first three games, notching shutout wins against Western Illinois, Utah and California to earn a spot in the national semifinals. Oklahoma State would then punch their ticket to the national championship series with a one-run victory over Michigan. Facing off in the national championship series against Texas A&M, the Cowgirls needed just one win to claim the national title. Oklahoma State was unable to find it though, falling to the Aggies twice and being forced to settle for a national runner-up finish. Just two days after a heartbreaking national runner-up finish in Norman, Oklahoma State competed in the inaugural NCAA Women's College World Series in Omaha.

Dominance in the Late 1980s and Early 1990s

The 1989 Oklahoma State softball team was one of the most dominant in school history, going 46-6 en route to winning both Big Eight regular season and tournament titles. In the Stillwater Regional, the Cowgirls swept Wichita State in the two games to punch their sixth trip to the Women's College World Series. In Sunnyvale, Oklahoma State began their tournament with a win over Toledo before picking up another win over Arizona in extra innings.

The 1990 Oklahoma State softball team went 43-11 and won both Big Eight regular season and tournament titles for the second straight year. The Cowgirls would punch their seventh ticket to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City with a win over Adelphi in the Storrs Regional. In the Women's College World Series, the Cowgirls picked up two quick wins over Arizona and Florida State to move into the national semifinals. *Note: OSU lost to something called Adelphi in Stillwater in 10 innings in the 1988 NCAA Northeast Regional.

The 1993 Oklahoma State softball team went 50-9, becoming the second team in program history to reach 50 wins en route to winning the Big Eight regular season title. The Cowgirls would sweep Utah State in the Stillwater Regional to clinch the eighth Women's College World Series appearance in program history. In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State began their tournament run with a win over Florida State in the opening game. The Cowgirls would continue with a victory in extra innings over top-seeded UCLA, before falling in extra innings to eventual national champion Arizona.

Read also: Oklahoma Regents Scholarship Eligibility

The 1994 Oklahoma State softball team went 46-12, winning another Big Eight regular season title with a dominant 15-3 conference record. In the Stillwater Regional, the Cowgirls would win three one-run games over Providence and rival Oklahoma to clinch the program's ninth Women's College World Series appearance. In Oklahoma City, a loss in extra innings to Utah would push Oklahoma State to the edge of elimination. However, the Cowgirls would battle back, grabbing wins over Missouri and Fresno State to make their way back to the national semifinals. Because two more wins would either put them in the WCWS finals (!) or get them to within one game of doing so just like 1994.

The 1998 Oklahoma State softball team went 42-19 with a 9-7 conference record. The Cowgirls hosted the Stillwater Regional and opened with a pair of shutout victories over Florida State and Missouri State. Oklahoma State would notch their third-straight shutout victory in a win over Stanford, punching their ticket to the Women's College World Series for the 10th time in program history. In Oklahoma City, the Cowgirls opened the tournament with a one-run loss to Arizona to enter the losers bracket. Oklahoma State would stave off elimination twice, blowing out UMass and winning a close game over Michigan to fight their way into the national semifinals.

2011 - Present

The 2011 Oklahoma State softball team went 42-20 with an 8-10 conference record. In the Knoxville Regional, the Cowgirls began their postseason run with a one-run win over Georgia Tech before knocking off host Tennessee twice to advance to the Stillwater Super Regional. Oklahoma State would defeat Houston in three games to advance to Oklahoma City for the 11th time.

The 2019 Oklahoma State softball team went 45-17 with a 13-5 conference record. Hosting the Stillwater Regional, the Cowgirls began their tournament with a tight win over BYU before knocking off rival Tulsa twice to advance. In the Tallahassee Super Regional against Florida State, Oklahoma State won an extremely competitive series in three games and advanced to the Women's College World Series for the 12th time in program history. In Oklahoma City, the Cowgirls continued their run with an upset win over Florida before a Bedlam showdown with Oklahoma.

The 2021 Oklahoma State softball team went 48-12 with a 15-3 conference record. Hosting the Stillwater Regional as the 5th seed nationally, the Cowgirls cruised with a dominant win over Campbell and a pair of blowout victories over Mississippi State. In the Stillwater Super Regional, Oklahoma State would outlast Texas in three games to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City for the 13th time. In the Women's College World Series, the Cowgirls began their run with a win over Georgia before suffering a major upset loss at the hands of James Madison.

Read also: Oklahoma Baptist Football: A Look Back

The 2022 Oklahoma State softball team went 48-14 with a 14-4 conference record, winning the first Big 12 conference tournament title with a victory over Bedlam rival Oklahoma. In the Stillwater Regional, the Cowgirls picked up a blowout win over Fordham before adding a pair of victories over Nebraska and North Texas to advance. In the Stillwater Super Regional, Oklahoma State swept Clemson in two games to advance to the 14th Women's College World Series in program history. In Oklahoma City, the Cowgirls opened with a pair of close wins over Arizona and Florida, moving just one win away from the national championship series. On Thursday, these Cowgirls became just the fourth OSU softball team to ever win a WCWS opener. All three followed that with a win in the next round, which will be a tall task for Oklahoma State as they get Bedlam and No. 1-ranked OU on Friday in OKC.

The 2023 Oklahoma State softball team went 47-16 with a 10-8 conference record. The Cowgirls opened the Stillwater Regional with a pair of shutout victories over UMBC and Wichita State before defeating Nebraska to advance. In the Stillwater Super Regional, Oklahoma State would demolish Oregon, outscoring them 17-1 over two games and punching their ticket to Oklahoma City for the 15th time. In the Women's College World Series, the Cowgirls suffered a blowout loss to Florida State to enter the losers bracket.

The 2024 Oklahoma State softball team went 49-12 with a 21-6 conference record. In the Stillwater Regional, the Cowgirls would open with a shutout win over Northern Colorado before adding two comfortable wins over Kentucky and Michigan to advance. In the Stillwater Super Regional, Oklahoma State would once again find complete dominance, cruising by Arizona in two games to reach the program's 16th Women's College World Series.

If OSU wins one more game this season, they’ll be at 46 which would be T4 all time. They’d have to win three more to get to T3. That year they opened with a loss to Utah before reeling off wins over Mizzou, Fresno and CS-Northridge in 15 innings (#PrayforMarshall). So that’s the deepest run the Cowgirls have ever had at the WCWS. What amounted to Final 4.

Legendary Players: The Top 50

OSU has had lots of great players come before. So during this 50th anniversary season, we wanted to celebrate OSU softball history with the top 50 players.

  1. Michele Smith, 1986-89: A two-time first-team All-American, Smith was the most dominant pitcher in the game in the late 1980s. The lefty had a career ERA of 0.75, threw nine no-hitters, including two perfect games, and powered the Cowgirls to the 1989 Women’s College World Series. She also had a career batting average of .343. Now an analyst with ESPN, she won Olympic gold in 1996 and 2000.
  2. Melanie Roche, 1990-93: Another two-time first-team All-American. The righty set school records with 47 career shutouts and a stretch of 60⅔ consecutive scoreless innings. She threw four no-hitters in her career and helped lead the Cowgirls to the WCWS in 1990 and 1993. After college, she played for her homeland of Australia in four Olympics, winning one silver (2004) and three bronzes (1996, 2000, 2008).
  3. Vanessa Shippy, 2015-18: The Cowgirls’ current hitting coach had a career batting average of .404, second-best in program history. In 2018, Shippy became only the fifth player in Big 12 history with at least 225 hits, 150 walks, 150 runs scored and 125 runs batted in during her career. The utility player is one of only two three-time All-Americans in program history (first-team once, third-team twice).
  4. Jaime Foutch, 1996-99: The other three-time All-American. Like Shippy, Foutch was a first-teamer once, a third-teamer twice. She had a career batting average of .401 and is one of only two Cowgirls to hit better than .400 in two seasons (.410 in 1999 and .409 in 1998). A powerful hitter, the outfielder/first baseman set program career records for hits (278), RBIs (163), doubles (56), homers (27) and total bases (425).
  5. Lauren Bay, 2000-03: The lefty followed in the footsteps of overpowering Cowgirl pitchers before her. In 2003, she struck out an all-time program-best 451 batters in 248⅓ innings, nearly two an inning, and her 1,151 career strikeouts are a program record, too. Bay also swung the bat for the Cowgirls, hitting .258 in her career. She became a three-time Olympian for her native Canada and won bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
  6. Kelly Maxwell, 2019-23: Perhaps the best lefty in college softball in 2022 and 2023 when she led OSU to the WCWS. Her career average of 10.6 strikeouts per seven innings is a Cowgirl record.
  7. Kim Ward, 1994-95: Was she a better slugger or pitcher? She's second in program history in slugging percentage (.557) and fourth in most strikeouts per seven innings (7.81). Ward led the Cowgirls to the WCWS in 1994.
  8. Lexi Kilfoyl, 2023-24: The only Cowgirl to ever be a top-three finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year, the Alabama transfer ranked fourth nationally in ERA (1.20) as a senior. The righty went 42-10 in two WCWS seasons at OSU.
  9. Shari Johnson, 1986-89: The shortstop was the biggest offensive threat on one of OSU’s greatest teams. Johnson hit .345 for 1989 Cowgirls, who tied for third at the WCWS, and had a program-record 14-game hitting streak in 1988.
  10. Sydney Pennington, 2018-22: The third baseman started all 269 games of her OSU career. Pennington is the program’s career home-run leader (47) and she led the Cowgirls to the WCWS in 2019, ‘21 and ‘22.
  11. Carrie Eberle, 2020-21: A Virginia Tech transfer who is now OSU’s pitching coach, she led OSU to the 2021 WCWS. Righty went 26-4 with 1.40 ERA.
  12. Dena Carter, 1988-91: Righty’s career ERA (0.51) and winning percentage (.833) both rank second in program history. She went to WCWS in 1989 and 1990.
  13. Samantha Show, 2019: Texas A&M transfer set single-season school records for homers (20), total bases (134). Also went 22-10 in the circle.
  14. Alysen Febrey, 2020-21: Georgia transfer played less than two full seasons but is in the program’s top five in homers (29) and top 20 in RBIs (92).
  15. Cyndi Smith, 1995-96: Set single-season program records as a senior in batting average (.474), hits (91), runs scored (55) and triples (eight).
  16. Dale Munn, 1983-84: Righty’s career ERA of 0.42 is a program record. Had a 32-12 record and struck out 382 in her two seasons at OSU.
  17. Kiley Naomi, 2019-23: Started at shortstop on four WCWS teams. Hit .366, with 65 RBIs as a senior. Sits tied atop OSU career homer record (47).
  18. Tina Schell, 1980-82: Threw seven no-hitters in her career. Both her career ERA (0.85) and strikeout total (668) rank in the top 10 at OSU.
  19. Rachel Becker, 2023: Purdue transfer starred on the Cowgirls' WCWS team, and her 22 doubles led the nation. Set program record reaching base 49 straight games.
  20. Caroline Wang, 2024: Liberty transfer powered WCWS team. Catcher led the Cowgirls in her lone season with .375 batting average and 17 homers.
  21. Jan Drummond, 1980: OSU’s first All-American, she led Cowgirls to first-ever appearance in the national tournament, then AIAW. Hit .324 that year.
  22. Miranda Elish, 2022: Texas transfer went 13-4 in the circle before sustaining an injury. Kept hitting, batting .344 and driving in 31 runs.
  23. Lisa Harvey, 1986-89: Steady behind the plate for Michele Smith and Dena Carter. First-team All-American as a senior when she hit .300.
  24. Hayley Busby, 2020-22: Virginia transfer helped power 2021 and 2022 WCWS teams. Batted .376 in 2021 and hit 19 homers, just shy of OSU record.
  25. Alysia Hamilton, 2008-11: Starred on the 2011 WCWS team, hitting .403 with 75 hits and 17 doubles. Owns OSU-best fielding percentage at second (.970).
  26. Courtney Totte, 2004-07: Catcher hit .402 as a senior, setting program records in homers (14), RBIs (71). Hit .313 as a four-year starter.
  27. Madi Sue Montgomery, 2016-19: Hit over .300 in three of four seasons. Slugging percentage (.667) in 2018 was best by OSU second baseman.
  28. Pam Harper, 1980-82: Powerful first baseman and first-team All-American in 1982, leading OSU with a .322 batting average and 27 RBI.
  29. Chyenne Factor, 2019-23: Anchored the outfield on four WCWS teams. Ranked in OSU’s career top 10 for hits (223), RBIs (146) and homers (29).
  30. Dee Brewer, 1988-89: Power hitter in an era when pitching dominated, she was a first-team All-American in 1988, hitting .390 with seven homers and 30 RBIs.
  31. Shanel Scott, 2004-07: Led nation with 51 stolen bases in 2007 and holds OSU record with 23 straight stolen bases. Center fielder hit .358 overall.
  32. Kat Espinosa, 2010-13: Set OSU career record with 164 pitching appearances. Career victories (75) ranks behind only Smith, Roche.
  33. Mariah Gearhart, 2008-11: Holds program records for consecutive stolen bases (23), stolen bases (115) and hit by pitches (92). Hit .347 overall.
  34. Chelsea Alexander, 2018-22: Career batting average (.318) is best all-time by an OSU left fielder. Speedster set table for three WCWS teams (2019, ‘21, ‘22).
  35. Jessica Hoppock, 2004-07: Set OSU career highs for starts (122), complete games (90), innings pitched (833⅓). Second with 846 career Ks.
  36. Taylor Lynch, 2016-19: Had a program-best 23-game hitting streak in 2016. Career .339 batting average is the best by an OSU right fielder.
  37. Rylee Bayless, 2017-19: Right fielder’s career on-base percentage (.502) and career walks (123) rank second at OSU. Also had 42 stolen bases.
  38. Stephenie Little, 1995-96: Her .373 career batting average is fifth all-time at OSU, highest among catchers. On-base percentage (.472) ranks fourth.
  39. Shelby Davis, 2012-15: Center fielder has two of OSU’s top three stolen base totals in a season, 45 in 2015, 41 in 2014. A .340 career hitter.
  40. Michelle Shean, 1989-92: Played in 1989 and 1990 WCWS. Leading hitter on that second team with a .351 batting average. She had a career .302 average.
  41. Ryan Realmuto, 2000-03: Four-year starter at catcher. The older sister of MLB All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, her career homers (26) rank 10th at OSU, RBIs (97) rank 15th. Career hits (162) are in top 25.
  42. Nancy Mulry, 1982-85: Highest single-season winning percentage (.923), going 12-1 as a sophomore. Ranks fourth all-time with 0.70 ERA.
  43. Karli Godwin (2024-present): Less than two years into her Cowgirl career, but hit .340 with 15 HR and 51 RBIs on WCWS team as a freshman.
  44. Rosie Davis (2024-present): Yep, she has to be with Godwin. Hit .333 as a freshman with a .966 fielding percentage at second. Better this year.
  45. Chrissy Oliver, 1990-93: Fourth in OSU history with a career 0.70 ERA. Went 49-13 with 26 shutouts, sixth most in program history.
  46. Kim Fabian, 1981-82: Hit .310 with 23 extra-base hits and 48 RBIs over two seasons. Hit .370 in 1981, an era when .300 averages were rare.
  47. Amy Day, 1994: Went 20-4 with a 0.79 ERA with 152 strikeouts in her only season in Stillwater. Led Cowgirls to 1994 WCWS.
  48. Katelynn Carwile, 2021-22: Third-team All-American in 2022, first OSU outfielder named an All-American since Jaime Foutch. Hit .335 with 33 RBIs.
  49. Anna Whiddon, 2007-10: Righty made 147 appearances, fourth all-time at OSU. Her 63 career wins rank seventh, her 587 Ks ninth.
  50. Simone Freeman, 2011-14: Ranks fifth in OSU history with 683 career strikeouts and 137 appearances.

Coaching Staff

The Cowgirls are currently led by head coach Kenny Gajewski. Carrie Eberle, a Virginia Tech transfer who played for OSU in 2020-21, is now OSU’s pitching coach.

tags: #oklahoma #state #university #softball #history

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