The Oklahoma State Cowgirls have a good showing in the Sunshine State in the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational
CLEARWATER, Florida — The Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball team made a strong statement at the 2026 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, held from February 12-15 in Clearwater, Florida.
Facing a gauntlet of top-ranked opponents, the No. 23 Cowgirls posted a 3-2 record in the early-season tournament, flexing their power hitting and pitching depth.
This performance builds on their 2-1 start at the Stanford Invitational, bringing their overall season record to 5-3 as they continue to gel under head coach Kenny Gajewski.
The invitational kicked off for OSU on Thursday, February 12, with a split doubleheader.
In the opener, the Cowgirls edged out No. 17 Georgia 6-5 in a nail-biter. OSU jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, powered by home runs from Rosie Davis and Claire Timm, but Georgia mounted a late rally with three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Closer Ivy Rosenberry slammed the door, striking out the final batter with runners on base to secure the win.
Offensively, the Cowgirls collected seven hits, with Timm going 2-for-3 and driving in two RBIs.
However, the second game saw OSU fall 4-9 to No. 10 LSU. Despite a two-run homer from Tia Warsop, the Tigers exploded for five runs in the fourth inning, outhitting OSU 12-6. Starting pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl took the loss, allowing seven earned runs over four innings.
Friday, February 13, proved to be OSU’s highlight, as they defeated two top-10 teams in dramatic fashion.
First, the Cowgirls rallied past No. 8 Texas A&M 9-8. The Cowgirls had a big sixth inning to gain a 9-6 lead that they would not relinquish.
OSU racked up 12 hits, including three doubles, and capitalized on three Aggie errors. Warsop finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, while catcher Caroline Wang added a two-run shot.
Later that day, OSU claimed a 4-3 walk-off victory in eight innings over No. 7 UCLA. Tied 3-3 after regulation, Jilyen Poullard singled home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Kilfoyl redeemed herself with a complete-game effort, striking out eight Bruins while allowing just five hits. The Cowgirls’ offense was efficient, with nine hits and flawless defense.
Saturday morning brought a tough close to the tournament against No. 19 Duke. OSU started strong, scoring three in the first and three in the third to tie the game at 6-6 after trailing 6-3.
However, Duke pulled away with three runs in the sixth, winning 9-6. The Cowgirls managed eight hits, led by Warsop’s 3-for-4 performance and another homer, but their pitching staff surrendered 11 hits and struggled to contain Duke’s timely rallies.
Rosenberry took the loss in relief, highlighting areas for improvement in middle-inning control.
Statistically, OSU impressed across the board. The team batted .298 in the invitational, belting seven home runs and driving in 29 runs over five games. Warsop emerged as a star, hitting .450 with three homers, nine RBIs, and a 1.200 slugging percentage.
On the mound, the staff posted a 4.85 ERA but struck out 28 batters in 34 innings, with Kilfoyl leading at 2-1 with 15 Ks.
Defensively, OSU committed just two errors, boasting a .981 fielding percentage. These numbers highlight the Cowgirls’ attack and ability to compete against elite competition, even as they integrate new transfers and freshmen.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State heads to San Marcos, Texas, for the River State Classic from February 20-22.
They’ll face Brown, Texas State, and other opponents in what promises to be another challenging slate.
Following that, the Cowgirls return home for the OSU/Tulsa Invitational (February 26-March 1), hosting Nebraska (three games), Southeast Missouri State (twice), and South Dakota State.
A midweek matchup against Missouri State on March 4 precedes the Big 12 opener versus UCF in Stillwater from March 6-8.
With a mix of tournaments and conference play looming, OSU aims to build momentum toward another Women’s College World Series run.