Mussatto: How Kenny Gajewski built an Oklahoma State softball program unafraid of Sooners

NORMAN — Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski pointed his thumb behind his right shoulder toward OU’s home dugout.

“I’m very clear when I recruit,” Gajewski said. “I’m looking for kids that have the guts to beat them. Because that’s the standard at this point. That’s what I’m in search of.

“If that doesn’t interest you, or that scares you, this is the wrong place.”

Gajewski has himself a squad. These Cowgirls aren’t afraid of the Sooners.

OSU beat OU 6-2 Saturday in Game 2 of the Bedlam series following the Cowgirls’ 6-3 win on Friday.

The Cowgirls (44-8, 21-5 Big 12) took a series from the Sooners (45-6, 21-5 Big 12) for the first time since 1997, and OSU has positioned itself for a sweep Sunday.

OU still rules the sport as the three-time defending champs, but the gulf between the Sooners and everybody else, between the Sooners and Cowgirls, is narrowing.

OU, in looking mortal, has taken a step back this season. Meanwhile, OSU has taken a step forward.

More: How did Karli Godwin power Oklahoma State softball to Bedlam win? 'This kid is special'

“I’ve been thinking the gap’s been shrinking, but until you come here and beat them you can’t really do much,” Gajewski said. “You’ve gotta lick your wounds and go on. The idea now is to come win tomorrow. That’s how you really turn the tide, right?”

This might not be Gajewski’s best team, the Cowgirls have made four straight trips to the Women’s College World Series, after all. But this might be his toughest.

Ivy Rosenberry’s four innings of one-run ball was emblematic of that. Rosenberry is pitching through pain, Gajewski said, and “she made hitters over there look bad today. Her stuff is that good.”

Lexi Kilfoyl earned the win in relief by blanking the Sooners over the final three innings.

Jilyen Poullard, Caroline Wang, Claire Timm and Micaela Wark all went deep. OSU’s four home runs accounted for all six of its runs batted in.

With power pitching and power hitting, OSU beat OU the way OU has beaten everyone in the country for much of Patty Gasso’s tenure. Gasso, by the way, is now 74-16 in Bedlam, a mere .822 winning percentage.

But the 2024 Cowgirls don’t seem haunted by Bedlams past.

And why should they?

More: How Oklahoma State baseball's Tommy Molsky made a mental reset with Cowboys

Rosenberry and Kilfoyl? Transfers from Virginia Tech and Alabama. Poullard? A McNeese State transfer. Wang transferred from Liberty and Wark from Kansas. All are in either their first or second seasons at OSU.

OSU’s roster is filled with players who haven’t been beaten down by the big, bad Sooners.

“It’s exciting what this program is becoming,” Gajewski said. “It’s tough. And that’s what we’ve needed to become to be able to beat a program like OU.”

“They’re bullies here, man,” Gajewski added. “That’s what they do. They’ve earned that. You have to learn how to get punched and punch back.”

The Cowgirls are tough enough to throw and absorb haymakers, and they have fun doing it.

If Wang gets to 21 home runs, she hit No. 18 Saturday, Gajewski vowed to shave his beard down to a mustache.

“Kind of want her there, but I don’t,” Gajewski said.

Gajewski had his own fun, hitting a celebratory dab dance move after the game.

“I got swag,” Gajewski said.

Just like his team.

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Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kenny Gajewski built Oklahoma State softball to be unafraid of Sooners