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LINCOLN, NE — For the last two months, Oklahoma State softball continually asked pitcher Ruby Meylan for everything she had to give.
And on Saturday afternoon, Meylan reached down deep once again, but there was nothing left.
The 13th-seeded Cowgirls’ season ended with a 9-1 run-rule loss to fourth-seeded Nebraska in five innings at Bowlin Stadium as the Cornhuskers swept the best-of-three Lincoln Super Regional.
“We ran out of gas,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. “I think Ruby’s out of gas. We rode her to get here, and I’m thankful for all she poured into this place.”
Gajewski later added that the Cowgirls (41-17) wouldn’t have made it this far without Meylan, and nothing could be more true.
Dating back to March 15, Meylan pitched in 26 of the last 30 games. She went at least five innings in 19 of them, and went at least seven in 16 of them, including 10 innings of work in an April 17 game against Arizona.
Though it didn’t show the last two days against Nebraska’s stellar pitching staff, the Cowgirls have a potent offense that helped them get two wins away from the Women’s College World Series.
More: Ruby Meylan's family enjoying 'full-circle moment' in Oklahoma State-Nebraska super regional
But without Meylan, this team falls far short of its desired goal. It probably doesn’t host a regional or qualify for a super regional.
And as has been documented previously, the offense played with a different spark when Meylan was in the circle.
With his options limited behind her, Gajewski asked Meylan for all she had, and despite the physical and mental difficulty of such a challenge, she continued to give it.
“She came out in this game and looked pretty good to start with,” Gajewski said. “Then we started to miss spots. That’s the one part that I know, when we start to miss those spots, I don’t care how good your stuff is, hitters hit when it’s not where it should be. They made us pay.
“Again, we’re not here in this spot if it’s not for her, the way she’s carried us. So I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Playing college softball in her home state, not far from where she grew up in Omaha, Meylan accomplished a noteworthy feat in her final game, recording her 800th career strikeout.
More: NCAA softball world series bracket updates: Which teams have advanced to WCWS?
Gajewski’s last bit of advice for his team as they gathered in right field for a brief postgame talk was to not worry about the final score.
The Cowgirls took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then fell behind 2-1 in the third. But in the fifth, Nebraska broke it open.
It started with a home run by Hannah Coor before the Huskers loaded the bases against Meylan. That’s when Gajewski turned to RyLee Crandall out of the bullpen, but Nebraska’s momentum was too strong.
Crandall hit a batter, then gave up a two-run single and a three-run homer, which brought the run rule into play.
“It’s like I told our team, don’t look at the scoreboard,” Gajewski said. “It didn’t define us. We just got our butts kicked. It’s part of this.”
More: NCAA softball tournament scores: Bracket, TV schedule for super regionals
OSU had eight seniors this season, and three of them were Cowgirls for their entire college careers in Audrey Schneidmiller, Lexi McDonald and Claire Timm. Another, Macy Graf, was at OSU for three seasons.
As the season ended, a couple of those players reflected on their time at OSU.
“I just love this place, love these girls,” McDonald said. “I knew I wanted to come here since I was 10, 11 years old. I just lived my dream.
“This is freakin’ hard, and freakin’ awesome. Every bit of it.”
Gajewski warns recruits about the level of commitment it will take to be part of a successful program like he has built at OSU.
“He tells us it’s gonna be one of the hardest things, but it’s gonna be one of the best things,” Schneidmiller added. “He’s right. It was really hard, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve grown as a person at this place, and it’s something that I’ll take away after this.”
The usually emotional Gajewski didn’t have to fight back tears after Saturday’s loss
“I’m at this peace,” Gajewksi said. “This team, we got a lot out of them. I really think that. I look back and go, ‘it’s a pretty good group.’ We’ll just keep building off that.”
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.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU softball 'ran out of gas' as season ends in Lincoln Super Regional
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And on Saturday afternoon, Meylan reached down deep once again, but there was nothing left.
The 13th-seeded Cowgirls’ season ended with a 9-1 run-rule loss to fourth-seeded Nebraska in five innings at Bowlin Stadium as the Cornhuskers swept the best-of-three Lincoln Super Regional.
“We ran out of gas,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. “I think Ruby’s out of gas. We rode her to get here, and I’m thankful for all she poured into this place.”
Gajewski later added that the Cowgirls (41-17) wouldn’t have made it this far without Meylan, and nothing could be more true.
Dating back to March 15, Meylan pitched in 26 of the last 30 games. She went at least five innings in 19 of them, and went at least seven in 16 of them, including 10 innings of work in an April 17 game against Arizona.
Though it didn’t show the last two days against Nebraska’s stellar pitching staff, the Cowgirls have a potent offense that helped them get two wins away from the Women’s College World Series.
More: Ruby Meylan's family enjoying 'full-circle moment' in Oklahoma State-Nebraska super regional
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But without Meylan, this team falls far short of its desired goal. It probably doesn’t host a regional or qualify for a super regional.
And as has been documented previously, the offense played with a different spark when Meylan was in the circle.
With his options limited behind her, Gajewski asked Meylan for all she had, and despite the physical and mental difficulty of such a challenge, she continued to give it.
“She came out in this game and looked pretty good to start with,” Gajewski said. “Then we started to miss spots. That’s the one part that I know, when we start to miss those spots, I don’t care how good your stuff is, hitters hit when it’s not where it should be. They made us pay.
“Again, we’re not here in this spot if it’s not for her, the way she’s carried us. So I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Playing college softball in her home state, not far from where she grew up in Omaha, Meylan accomplished a noteworthy feat in her final game, recording her 800th career strikeout.
More: NCAA softball world series bracket updates: Which teams have advanced to WCWS?
‘Don’t look at the scoreboard’
Gajewski’s last bit of advice for his team as they gathered in right field for a brief postgame talk was to not worry about the final score.
The Cowgirls took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then fell behind 2-1 in the third. But in the fifth, Nebraska broke it open.
It started with a home run by Hannah Coor before the Huskers loaded the bases against Meylan. That’s when Gajewski turned to RyLee Crandall out of the bullpen, but Nebraska’s momentum was too strong.
Crandall hit a batter, then gave up a two-run single and a three-run homer, which brought the run rule into play.
“It’s like I told our team, don’t look at the scoreboard,” Gajewski said. “It didn’t define us. We just got our butts kicked. It’s part of this.”
More: NCAA softball tournament scores: Bracket, TV schedule for super regionals
You must be registered for see images attach
Seniors close long Cowgirl careers
OSU had eight seniors this season, and three of them were Cowgirls for their entire college careers in Audrey Schneidmiller, Lexi McDonald and Claire Timm. Another, Macy Graf, was at OSU for three seasons.
As the season ended, a couple of those players reflected on their time at OSU.
“I just love this place, love these girls,” McDonald said. “I knew I wanted to come here since I was 10, 11 years old. I just lived my dream.
“This is freakin’ hard, and freakin’ awesome. Every bit of it.”
Gajewski warns recruits about the level of commitment it will take to be part of a successful program like he has built at OSU.
“He tells us it’s gonna be one of the hardest things, but it’s gonna be one of the best things,” Schneidmiller added. “He’s right. It was really hard, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve grown as a person at this place, and it’s something that I’ll take away after this.”
The usually emotional Gajewski didn’t have to fight back tears after Saturday’s loss
“I’m at this peace,” Gajewksi said. “This team, we got a lot out of them. I really think that. I look back and go, ‘it’s a pretty good group.’ We’ll just keep building off that.”
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.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU softball 'ran out of gas' as season ends in Lincoln Super Regional
Continue reading...
