Oklahoma State softball delivered a dominant 7-0 shutout on Sunday to clinch a 2-1 series victory over Kansas and lock up the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.
STILLWATER, Okla. — The No. 13/16 Oklahoma State Cowgirls capped their regular season on a high note, defeating Kansas 7-0 on Sunday, May 3, at Cowgirl Stadium to take the three-game series 2-1 and clinch the No. 2 overall seed in the 2026 Big 12 Softball Tournament.
The victory, combined with Utah’s run-rule win over Arizona, locked in OSU’s favorable positioning heading into the conference championship at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The Cowgirls finished the regular season at 37-14 overall and 16-8 in Big 12 play.
Game 1 – May 1: Oklahoma State 8, Kansas 1
OSU jumped out to an early lead in the series opener behind a dominant performance from ace Ruby Meylan. The senior right-hander threw six strong innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out eight to improve to 25-6 on the season.
Offensively, the Cowgirls erupted for four runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles from Tia Warsop (two RBI) and Audrey Schneidmiller (two RBI). They added two more in the fifth with solo home runs from Claire Timm (her eighth of the season) and Rosie Davis (her 11th).
In the sixth, pinch-hitter Madison Hoffman and shortstop Aubrey Jones each went deep, accounting for the final margin. Kansas managed just one run in the sixth on an Anna Soles RBI double. Meylan’s efficiency and the power surge powered the 8-1 victory.
Game 2 – May 2: Kansas 10, Oklahoma State 1 (5 innings)
The Jayhawks responded aggressively in the middle game, exploding for five runs in the first inning against OSU starter Preslee Downing (who took the loss, dropping to 5-1).
Kansas strung together five straight hits, including RBI singles from Hailey Cripe, Ella Boyer, Campbell Bagshaw, and a two-RBI single from Aynslee Linduff. They added more in the second and third on home runs from Boyer (two RBI, her 18th) and Bagshaw (solo, her 10th), plus a fourth-inning RBI double from Presley Limbaugh.
The Jayhawks pounded out 16 hits total.
OSU’s lone run came on Davis’ solo homer (her 12th of the season) in the first. Lila Partridge earned the complete-game win for Kansas (9-3), limiting the Cowgirls to just two hits in the run-rule shortened contest.
Game 3 – May 3: Oklahoma State 7, Kansas 0
On senior day and with seeding on the line, OSU bounced back with a complete-game shutout from Meylan, who tossed all seven innings, scattering two hits, striking out seven, and walking none to move to 26-6.
The offense provided all the support needed. Claire Timm scored the first run in the opening frame on Davis’ RBI fielder’s choice. Audrey Schneidmiller launched a two-run homer in the second (her fourth), Davis added a two-run blast in the third (her 13th of the year and three RBI total), and Madison Hoffman capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the fifth.
The Cowgirls collected nine hits while Kansas managed only two and committed an error. Meylan’s command and great hitting power hitting sealed the series-clinching victory.
With the series win, Oklahoma State earned the No. 2 seed in this week’s Big 12 Softball Tournament, presented by Allstate and hosted at Devon Park in Oklahoma City from May 7-9.
The Cowgirls will open tournament play on Thursday, May 7, against No. 7 seed Utah at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN+. A victory would advance them to the semifinals on Friday, where they could face the winner of the UCF-Kansas quarterfinal or potentially set up a deeper run.
The bracket’s top half features strong competition, including possible matchups against No. 3 Arizona or No. 6 Arizona State, with No. 1 seed Texas Tech waiting in the championship game on Saturday if both advance that far.
A Big 12 Tournament title would not only mark OSU’s first conference championship since 2022 but could also strengthen their case for hosting an NCAA Regional.
Under head coach Kenny Gajewski, the program has been a consistent postseason powerhouse, reaching the Women’s College World Series four straight years from 2021-2024 before a brief hiatus.
The Cowgirls are currently ranked in the top 16 nationally and hold a strong RPI; winning the tournament would provide the resume boost needed to land among the 16 regional hosts when the NCAA Selection Show airs around May 10.
Hosting would give OSU the home-field advantage in Stillwater for the regional round, a critical edge as they pursue a return to the WCWS for the sixth time in recent memory.
As postseason play begins, momentum is clearly on Oklahoma State’s side. Meylan has emerged as one of the conference’s most reliable aces, while Davis continues to anchor the lineup with clutch power (13+ home runs this season). Veterans like Schneidmiller, Timm, Warsop, and Hoffman provide depth and experience.
The Cowgirls enter the Big 12 Tournament on a high after winning five of their last six conference series and will enjoy the familiarity of playing in Oklahoma City. With a favorable seed and a proven track record under Gajewski, Oklahoma State is positioned for a deep run that could culminate in another NCAA Regional appearance…or maybe even better.