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STILLWATER — Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski walked off the turf of Cowgirl Stadium on Friday with some extra bullets in his pocket.
Some Ruby Meylan bullets, to be exact.
The offense of 13th-seeded OSU exploded for a 16-0 run-rule win in five innings over Eastern Illinois in the opening round of the Stillwater Regional, but Meylan only had to throw two innings, buying some extra rest for the Cowgirls’ star pitcher.
Gajewski said Thursday he wanted to “save every bullet that I can out of her,” in hopes of keeping his ace as fresh as possible for Saturday and Sunday. And the offense helped make that happen.
REQUIRED READING: Ruby Meylan ready to carry Oklahoma State softball in Stillwater Regional and beyond
Meylan will most certainly be back in the circle when OSU takes on 20th-seeded Stanford in the winner’s bracket final at noon Saturday.
But getting her some work Friday might’ve been more important than anticipated.
“It looked like she was a hair rusty after not throwing for a week,” Gajewski said. “I think it was good for her. She needed to throw in this first game. Too many pitches, too many full counts.
“She wasn’t as sharp. The ball wasn’t jumping until late in the second inning, it started to really go.”
Meylan threw 44 pitches, needing 27 to get out of the first inning, but didn’t allow a hit. Senior RyLee Crandall earned the pitching victory with three shutout innings to end the game.
“It’s a new season,” Gajewski said. “That’s all you can go off of, and she looked like a different kid here today.”
Starting with No. 2 hitter Karli Godwin, who got the Cowgirls on the board with a 276-foot home run in the bottom of the first inning, the heart of OSU’s lineup did just about all the damage it could.
Godwin, Rosie Davis, Lexi McDonald and Amanda Hasler — the 2-5 hitters in the order — combined to go 11 for 12 with three doubles, two home runs, four walks, seven RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Godwin’s first-inning missile that cleared the decks in left-center field was exactly the ammunition the Cowgirls needed to get their day started.
“It was freakin’ awesome,” said Hasler, who hit a 252-foot homer in the second inning. “I feel like every time you see her get up to bat, you feel like, welp, she’s about to hit a bomb. She did just that, and I feel like it being the first pitch, we felt like, yeah, we got this in the bag.”
More: Oklahoma State softball carves out role for Madison Hoffman, Cowgirls' 'hardest worker'
The final OSU scorecard included 18 names, with 16 hitters and two pitchers seeing the field Friday.
Some only entered as pinch-runners, though multiple reserves got at-bats as well.
That allowed Gajewski to get some rest for senior Audrey Schneidmiller, who has been the team’s everyday catcher for most of the season. Schneidmiller had an RBI single and pushed in another run when she reached on an error before exiting.
Freshman Jayelle Austin, who has been a regular starter in center field recently, didn’t start because Tia Warsop returned from injury and Gajewski opted for the more dangerous offensive lineup with hot-hitting Madison Hoffman in the outfield over Austin.
But she took advantage of her opportunity when she got in, going 1 for 2 with two RBIs and two stolen bases.
Gajewski also got plate appearances for young players like LIbby Jaques, Montgomery Henderson, Gabby Castillo and Jayden Jones.
“We love it,” McDonald said of seeing the reserves get in during such a meaningful game. “They work their butt off just like everyone else every day and it’s absolutely awesome to see them go out and compete, because they’re really good players.
“They just happen to be on a freakin’ talented team. So it’s really cool.”
More: Who is Oklahoma State softball playing in NCAA Tournament? Meet Stillwater Regional teams
OSU and Stanford have played twice this season, with Stanford winning 4-2 and 10-0 on its home field in the first week of the regular season.
Obviously, a lot has changed since then. And one big difference, Gajewski says, will be his team’s preparedness for sophomore left-hander Zoe Prystajko.
She allowed two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts over 5 ⅔ innings in Stanford’s 4-2 win in the season opener. Prystajko pitched Friday, but only recorded one out.
“They’re really good. They have a unique team,” Gajewski said. “When we faced them early in the year, we had a really bad scout, to be very frank. She was all rise last year, and then over the offseason, somebody taught her a drop ball and it was disgusting. We had zero shot. We’ll be a little bit more prepared here tomorrow.
“But we’re still gonna have to be good, because she’s good. And they have a staff. They got three or four kids they can run out there. I’m a big fan of (Stanford coach Jessica Allister). I always have been.”
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
Double elimination from Friday-Sunday (May 15-17) at Cowgirl Stadium.
Game 1: Stanford (37-13) vs. Princeton (33-13), 1 p.m., ACC Network
Game 2: (13) Oklahoma State (38-15) vs. Eastern Illinois (36-21), 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, noon
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 5 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 3 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Rematch Game 6, 5:30 p.m.OSU softball highlights vs. Eastern Illinois
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State softball sets up Stanford rematch in NCAA Tournament
Continue reading...
Some Ruby Meylan bullets, to be exact.
The offense of 13th-seeded OSU exploded for a 16-0 run-rule win in five innings over Eastern Illinois in the opening round of the Stillwater Regional, but Meylan only had to throw two innings, buying some extra rest for the Cowgirls’ star pitcher.
Gajewski said Thursday he wanted to “save every bullet that I can out of her,” in hopes of keeping his ace as fresh as possible for Saturday and Sunday. And the offense helped make that happen.
REQUIRED READING: Ruby Meylan ready to carry Oklahoma State softball in Stillwater Regional and beyond
Meylan will most certainly be back in the circle when OSU takes on 20th-seeded Stanford in the winner’s bracket final at noon Saturday.
But getting her some work Friday might’ve been more important than anticipated.
“It looked like she was a hair rusty after not throwing for a week,” Gajewski said. “I think it was good for her. She needed to throw in this first game. Too many pitches, too many full counts.
“She wasn’t as sharp. The ball wasn’t jumping until late in the second inning, it started to really go.”
Meylan threw 44 pitches, needing 27 to get out of the first inning, but didn’t allow a hit. Senior RyLee Crandall earned the pitching victory with three shutout innings to end the game.
“It’s a new season,” Gajewski said. “That’s all you can go off of, and she looked like a different kid here today.”
Middle of order powers blowout
Starting with No. 2 hitter Karli Godwin, who got the Cowgirls on the board with a 276-foot home run in the bottom of the first inning, the heart of OSU’s lineup did just about all the damage it could.
Godwin, Rosie Davis, Lexi McDonald and Amanda Hasler — the 2-5 hitters in the order — combined to go 11 for 12 with three doubles, two home runs, four walks, seven RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Godwin’s first-inning missile that cleared the decks in left-center field was exactly the ammunition the Cowgirls needed to get their day started.
“It was freakin’ awesome,” said Hasler, who hit a 252-foot homer in the second inning. “I feel like every time you see her get up to bat, you feel like, welp, she’s about to hit a bomb. She did just that, and I feel like it being the first pitch, we felt like, yeah, we got this in the bag.”
More: Oklahoma State softball carves out role for Madison Hoffman, Cowgirls' 'hardest worker'
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Several Cowgirl reserves play
The final OSU scorecard included 18 names, with 16 hitters and two pitchers seeing the field Friday.
Some only entered as pinch-runners, though multiple reserves got at-bats as well.
That allowed Gajewski to get some rest for senior Audrey Schneidmiller, who has been the team’s everyday catcher for most of the season. Schneidmiller had an RBI single and pushed in another run when she reached on an error before exiting.
Freshman Jayelle Austin, who has been a regular starter in center field recently, didn’t start because Tia Warsop returned from injury and Gajewski opted for the more dangerous offensive lineup with hot-hitting Madison Hoffman in the outfield over Austin.
But she took advantage of her opportunity when she got in, going 1 for 2 with two RBIs and two stolen bases.
Gajewski also got plate appearances for young players like LIbby Jaques, Montgomery Henderson, Gabby Castillo and Jayden Jones.
“We love it,” McDonald said of seeing the reserves get in during such a meaningful game. “They work their butt off just like everyone else every day and it’s absolutely awesome to see them go out and compete, because they’re really good players.
“They just happen to be on a freakin’ talented team. So it’s really cool.”
More: Who is Oklahoma State softball playing in NCAA Tournament? Meet Stillwater Regional teams
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Rematch from February on tap
OSU and Stanford have played twice this season, with Stanford winning 4-2 and 10-0 on its home field in the first week of the regular season.
Obviously, a lot has changed since then. And one big difference, Gajewski says, will be his team’s preparedness for sophomore left-hander Zoe Prystajko.
She allowed two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts over 5 ⅔ innings in Stanford’s 4-2 win in the season opener. Prystajko pitched Friday, but only recorded one out.
“They’re really good. They have a unique team,” Gajewski said. “When we faced them early in the year, we had a really bad scout, to be very frank. She was all rise last year, and then over the offseason, somebody taught her a drop ball and it was disgusting. We had zero shot. We’ll be a little bit more prepared here tomorrow.
“But we’re still gonna have to be good, because she’s good. And they have a staff. They got three or four kids they can run out there. I’m a big fan of (Stanford coach Jessica Allister). I always have been.”
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
Stillwater Regional schedule
Double elimination from Friday-Sunday (May 15-17) at Cowgirl Stadium.
Friday's games
Game 1: Stanford (37-13) vs. Princeton (33-13), 1 p.m., ACC Network
Game 2: (13) Oklahoma State (38-15) vs. Eastern Illinois (36-21), 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
Saturday's games
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, noon
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 5 p.m.
Sunday's games
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 3 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Rematch Game 6, 5:30 p.m.OSU softball highlights vs. Eastern Illinois
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State softball sets up Stanford rematch in NCAA Tournament
Continue reading...
