The Cowgirl Softball team sees early success in south Texas
SAN MARCOS, TX — The No. 19 Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball team kicked off their participation in the 2026 River State Classic with a commanding performance on Thursday, February 19, in San Marcos, Texas.
Traveling to Bobcat Softball Stadium, the Cowgirls secured two decisive victories, defeating the Kansas City Roos 12-1 in five innings and shutting out the host Texas State Bobcats 5-0.
These wins improved OSU’s record to 8-4 on the young season, flexing their offensive bats and pitching power under head coach Kenny Gajewski, who is in his 11th year leading the program.
The River State Classic, hosted by Texas State, brings together a mix of competitive teams for early season action.
OSU, coming off a challenging start that included matchups against top programs like Stanford, Duke, and Texas A&M, used Thursday’s games to build momentum. Gajewski’s squad features 11 newcomers, eight freshmen and three transfers, blending with returning talent to form a dynamic roster aiming for another deep postseason run after multiple Women’s College World Series appearances in recent years.
Recap — Oklahoma State vs. Kansas City (12-1, 5 innings)
The Cowgirls wasted no time asserting dominance against the Roos (now 4-6).
OSU exploded for three runs in each of the second through fifth innings, invoking the mercy rule after five frames.
Claire Timm was the standout, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, including a triple to right-center in the third.
Jayelle Austin provided a spark with a solo home run in the third, her first of the season, and crossed the plate three times while drawing two walks.
Gabby Castillo contributed two hits and an RBI, while Preslee Downing dominated on the mound, earning the win (2-0) with five innings pitched, allowing just three hits, one earned run, and striking out four without issuing a walk.
Kansas City’s lone run came in the second on an RBI single from Amelia French, but errors plagued the Roos, who committed two miscues leading to three unearned runs for OSU.
The Cowgirls outhit UMKC 11-3, with additional RBIs from Amiah Hasler (two), Austin, and others.
Batting stats highlighted OSU’s efficiency on Thursday.
Timm’s two triples, Lexi McDonald’s double, and a sacrifice fly from Alana Jones.
The Roos’ starter, B. Seppi (0-2), took the loss after surrendering 11 hits and nine earned runs.
Recap - Oklahoma State vs. Texas State (5-0)
In the later game, OSU’s Ruby Meylan delivered a masterpiece, tossing a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and just two walks over seven innings, improving to 3-1.
The Cowgirls’ offense built steadily, scoring one in the third, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth.
Timm again shone, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs on singles in the third and fifth. Rosie Davis added a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs via a sixth-inning single, while Jada Jones chipped in an RBI single.
Texas State (now 5-5) managed only a single from Sydney Harvey and committed one error that led to an unearned run.
Bobcat starter Madison Azua (2-2) pitched 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits and four earned runs with six strikeouts, but couldn’t contain OSU’s timely hitting.
The Cowgirls finished with 10 hits, leaving seven on base but capitalizing on key moments.
This victory marked OSU’s first against Texas State since 2016, powering their early season road winning ways.
Texas State entered the matchup as a formidable team. Really. The Bobcats have started the season strong, having already notched impressive wins in the 2026 season despite a .500 record.
They’ve opened with a 3-2 showing at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona, beating Toledo 8-2, RV Northwestern 4-3, and Memphis 13-8, while falling to RV Arizona State 2-3 and Northwestern again 1-7.
At home in the States Up Invitational, they upset No. 18 Clemson 4-0 and routed BYU 10-2 in six innings, though losses to Wichita State (3-10) and No. 11 Arkansas (0-9 in six) showed vulnerabilities.
Their pitching staff, led by Azua, has shown flashes of brilliance, but facing OSU’s balanced attack proved too much.
These early wins against ranked and regionally voted teams highlight Texas State’s potential as a Sun Belt contender.
Preview: Rest of the River State Classic Weekend
With Thursday’s sweep, OSU sets up for a strong finish in the tournament.
On Friday, February 20, the Cowgirls face Brown at 11:00 a.m. CT, followed by Colorado State at 6:30 p.m. CT. Saturday, February 21, brings a rematch with Brown at 4:00 p.m. CT (note: schedules subject to change due to weather or other factors).
Brown, an Ivy League team, enters with a 0-0 record in early action, presenting an opportunity for OSU to fine-tune against less familiar foes.
Colorado State, from the Mountain West, sits at 3-3 after mixed results in Puerto Vallarta.
These games will test OSU’s depth, especially with newcomers like freshmen infielders and transfers integrating into the lineup.
Gajewski emphasized post-game the importance of maintaining focus: “We’re building chemistry, and these road trips are crucial for that.”
OSU aims to go 5-0 in the classic, boosting their resume before returning home for the OSU/Tulsa Invitational starting February 26.
How to Watch and Follow ——
Fans can catch the action through various platforms. All remaining games will be available via live audio on KGFY-FM 105.5 or the Varsity Network app, with Ryan Breeden providing play-by-play.
Live stats are accessible at okstate.statbroadcast.com for real-time updates.
While Thursday’s Texas State game streamed on ESPN+, upcoming matchups may not have video streams - check OSU’s athletics site or the River State Classic page for any additions.
Oklahoma State’s Thursday triumphs in San Marcos signal a team hitting its stride.
With stellar pitching from Downing and Meylan, plus offensive standouts like Timm and Austin, the Cowgirls are poised for success.
Texas State’s early-season scalps against powerhouses like Clemson remind us of how competitive college softball can be outside of traditional conference, though OSU’s experience prevailed.
That being said, I predict an undefeated weekend for Oklahoma State softball.