Cowgirls Softball Preview: OSU Seeks First Big 12 Tourney Title since 2022
Everything up to this point has been preamble for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball team. What happens next is what matters.
The No. 2 seeded Cowgirls 37-14 (16-8 in Big 12) will open their action in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday at 5 p.m. central against No. 7 seeded Utah. It’s the first game of what OSU hopes will be three games in Oklahoma City this week as they seek to win their second Big 12 Tournament title and its first in four years.
Texas Tech is the No. 1 seed in the tournament and is one of the Big 12 teams the Cowgirls have not played yet. If the Red Raiders and the Cowgirls win their first two games, fans will get the matchup many have wanted all season — Red Raiders pitcher NiJaree Canady and Cowgirls pitcher Ruby Meylan. Both were named Big 12 pitchers of the year on Wednesday.
But both must get there first. Beating Utah is first on the to-do list for the Cowgirls.
Here is a preview of the Cowgirls’ first game of the tournament, including the complete schedule, TV information and more.
Oklahoma State vs. Utah (Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal)
Time, Date, Place: 5 p.m. CT Thursday, Devon Park, Oklahoma City
Radio/Audio: KGFY 105.5 FM/Varsity Network app
Records: Oklahoma State, 37-14 (16-8 in Big 12); Utah (35-19-1, 10-13-1)
National Rankings: Oklahoma State, No. 16/13; Utah: Not ranked.
Season Results: The Cowgirls swept the Utes in late March in Salt Lake City, winning those games, 2-1, 9-8 and 4-2.
At Stake: The winner of the Big 12 Tournament will earn the automatic bid from the Big 12 for the NCAA Tournament.
Previewing Oklahoma State
Pitcher Ruby Meylan will probably start every game from here on out and she’s shown no signs of wearing down. She’s won each of her last 17 decisions and leads all power four pitchers in innings pitched (213.2) while ranking second in the NCAA in wins (26). Claire Timm, Rosie Davis, Amanda Hasler and Tia Warsop, all of which have NCAA Tournament experience, should drive the batting order. Davis and Hasler, in particular, are worth watching as the pair have driven in more than 33% of OSU’s runs this season.
Oklahoma State is red-hot, as it has won 20 of its last 24 games.
Previewing Utah
Utah didn’t land any players on the All-Big 12 first team, but two made the second team — Hailey Maestretti and Mia Gomez. Gomez, along with Danika Wilson, Cian Noli and Payton Crank, were named All-Big 12 freshmen.
Maestretti is likely to draw the start in the circle and she has pitched complete-game shutouts against Arizona State and Texas Tech, the latter of which was No. 1 at the time. She won 13 games, had a 2.38 ERA and pitched six shutouts. Gomez bodes well for the program’s future. She reached base in her first 36 collegiate games, hit 13 home runs and batted .388, which led the team.
2026 Big 12 Softball Tournament Schedule
(at Devon Park, Oklahoma City)
Thursday, May 7
Game 1 – No. 4 UCF vs. No. 5 Kansas – 11 a.m.
Game 2 – No. 1 Texas Tech vs. No. 8 Baylor – 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 – No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Utah – 5 p.m. CT
Game 4 – No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 6 Arizona State – 7:30 p.m. CT
Friday, May 8
Game 5: Winner of Game 1 and Game 2 - 3 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 and Game 4 - 7 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
Saturday, May 9
Championship Game - 11 a.m. CT (ESPN)
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Matthew Postins is the publisher of Oklahoma State on SI. He is an award-winning sports journalist who was formerly the editor of the College Football America Yearbook and covers the Big 12 Conference for Heartland College Sports.
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