A fifth-inning power surge propelled Nebraska to the Women’s College World Series, silencing the Cowgirls' early lead and ending their impressive postseason run in a run-rule rout
LINCOLN, Neb. — The No. 13 Oklahoma State Cowgirls saw their 2026 season come to a heartbreaking close on Saturday afternoon, falling to the 4th-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers 9-1 in five innings at Bowlin Stadium in the decisive Game 2 of the NCAA Lincoln Super Regional.
The Cowgirls finished the year with a strong 41-17 overall record. While the loss stings, Oklahoma State can take pride in another deep postseason run, marking their sixth Super Regional appearance in the last seven years, a clear sign of sustained excellence in the Josh Holliday era.
Nebraska, meanwhile, improved to 51-6 and punched their ticket to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2013, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Acting as the designated home team, Oklahoma State jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Rosie Davis drew a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position before Lexi McDonald delivered a clutch single into the left-center gap, plating Davis for a 1-0 advantage.
The early spark gave the Cowgirls hope of forcing a winner-take-all third game, but Nebraska’s pitching and explosive offense quickly took control.
Both teams traded scoreless frames in the second inning, but the Cornhuskers seized the lead in the third. Hannah Coor ripped an RBI double to tie the game, and Hannah Camenzind followed with a sacrifice fly to give Nebraska a 2-1 edge they would never surrender.
From that point forward, the momentum firmly shifted in favor of the Huskers.
The game reached its breaking point in the fifth inning. Nebraska erupted for seven runs, turning a close contest into a run-rule victory. Hannah Coor and Lauren Camenzind both went deep with home runs, while Kacie Hoffmann drew an RBI hit-by-pitch and Alina Felix added an RBI single.
The offensive outburst showcased the depth and power that made Nebraska one of the most dangerous teams in the country all season.
On the mound, Oklahoma State starter Ruby Meylan battled through 4 and 2/3 innings but took the loss, falling to 29-9 on the year. Meylan was charged with six runs in the decisive fifth-inning rally.
For Nebraska, Alexis Jensen delivered a dominant performance, tossing 4.0 innings of scoreless relief with seven strikeouts to improve to 25-2.
The freshman standout, a top-three finalist for NFCA Freshman of the Year honors, was nearly untouchable. Jordy Frahm, who starred in Game 1, came on to record the final three outs in the fifth, preserving the shutout after the first inning.
Reaching the Super Regional for the sixth time in seven years reflects consistent program success and the development of a talented roster that competed at a high level against top-tier competition.
Standout performances from players like Karli Godwin, who provided power throughout the tournament, and a veteran pitching staff that kept OSU in games all year, underscored the team’s quality.
For Nebraska, advancing to the Women’s College World Series marks a major milestone and rewards a dominant season. The Cornhuskers’ ability to capitalize on momentum shifts and deliver timely hits proved too much for the Cowgirls in this series.
As the 2026 campaign ends for Oklahoma State, the focus will soon shift to the future. With a young core and valuable postseason experience gained, the Cowgirls are positioned to reload and chase another deep run in 2027.
This season’s group left everything on the field and elevated the program’s standard once again.
Nebraska will now prepare for the bright lights of the WCWS, carrying the energy of a home crowd and a red-hot offense into the final stage of the NCAA Tournament.
