Oklahoma State softball earns No. 6 overall seed in NCAA Tournament, will host UMBC
As he began his press conference to discuss the seedings for the NCAA softball tournament, Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski needed less than 20 seconds before he arrived at the phrase of the day.
Body of work.
For anyone unsure of why the Cowgirls were selected as the No. 6 overall seed in the bracket, that’s why.
OSU will host the four-team Stillwater Regional that will include Maryland-Baltimore County, Nebraska and recent Cowgirl nemesis Wichita State. And the Cowgirls will also be in line to host a super-regional should they advance — which is the Cowgirls’ most important accomplishment.
After suffering their 11th loss in the last 13 games, 8-7 to Kansas in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday, the Cowgirls (41-14) planted themselves firmly on the bubble for a top-eight seed and the right to home-field advantage for the regional and super-regional rounds.
But with one of the 10 toughest schedules in the country, 10 wins against teams in the top 25 of the college softball Ratings Percentage Index, and an overall total of 41 wins, the Cowgirls were given credit for everything they’ve accomplished this season without being judged too harshly for their recent struggles.
More: Why is Oklahoma State the No. 6 overall seed in NCAA softball tournament? Three little words
“Our body of work has been, I think, very, very strong,” Gajewski said in his post-selection show press conference. “I was concerned about our last 10, just because I know that’s something the committee looks to and puts weight in. But like I told our team, we’re gonna get what we’ve earned, and whatever that is, we’re gonna take it.”
OSU and UMBC, America East Conference champions, will meet in the opener of the double-elimination bracket at 3 p.m. Friday on ESPN+, with Nebraska and Wichita State facing off at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
Nebraska, which also came to the Stillwater Regional last year, was listed by the selection committee as one of the last four teams in the field. OSU defeated the Cornhuskers twice in February.
Wichita State beat OSU in both meetings earlier this year, and the teams have split eight games over the last three seasons. That information is not lost on the Cowgirls.
“We’re gonna use what we’ve learned from playing these teams in the past and go into it as best we can,” said OSU super-senior second baseman Rachel Becker, who will be playing in her first NCAA regional after transferring from Purdue. “We know they’re gonna bring their best game, but so are we. I think it’s gonna be really competitive.
“I’m excited to get another shot at Wichita State, for sure.”
If the regional favorites advance, OSU would be in line to host 11th-seeded Arkansas in the super-regional round.
The Cowgirls know they’re in need of a reboot, especially after the last-inning collapse against Kansas on Friday.
After opening the season with 39 wins in the first 42 games, the Cowgirls climbed as high as No. 2 in the national rankings.
More: Secret weapon in Oklahoma State ace Kelly Maxwell's success? 'Super glue is her friend'
The team traveled to Broken Bow for a brief retreat, a trip Gajewski has organized the last few years as a quick breather for the players in the middle of an intense stretch of softball. But perhaps it could be the break this team needs to get back on track.
OSU has advanced to the WCWS the last three times it has been held. In 2019, the Cowgirls went on the road for the super-regional round, winning a best-of-three series at Florida State. The past two seasons, OSU advanced past Texas and Clemson, respectively, in the super-regional, both played at Cowgirl Stadium.
Season ticket holders get the first opportunity to buy tickets for the Stillwater Regional. Any remaining all-session tickets (reserved seating or bleachers) go on sale to the public at noon Tuesday. Any unsold seats and standing-room-only tickets will be available on a single-session basis outside the stadium one hour prior to the first pitch of each game. Single-game prices are $15 for bleacher seats and $10 for standing room only.
OSU will try once more to break the stadium’s attendance record, which it accomplished twice during the Bedlam series earlier this month. The university brought in a temporary set of bleachers that raised capacity to 1,600 for Bedlam, and the bleachers will remain in place beyond the right field fence for the postseason.
Last year, OSU added Cowgirl Grove where non-ticketed fans can sit in the grassy area beyond the left field decks and watch the game on a big screen.
More: Big 12 softball has history in OKC. What about adding the SEC tournament? 'We could do it'
Stillwater Regional schedule, game times, TV
At Cowgirl Stadium
Friday's games
Game 1: No. 6 Oklahoma State (41-14) vs. UMBC (26-15), 3 p.m. Friday (ESPN+)
Game 2: Nebraska (34-20) vs. Wichita State (43-10), 6 p.m. Friday (ESPNU)
Saturday's games
Game 3: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 4: G1 loser vs. G2 loser, 4:30 p.m.
Game 5: G3 loser vs. G4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday's games
Game 6: G3 winner vs. G5 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 7: G6 winner vs. G6 loser, 5:30 p.m. (if necessary)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State softball earns No. 6 overall seed in NCAA Tournament
