As OU softball arrives for Bedlam, Kenny Gajewski tells Oklahoma State to 'buckle up'

STILLWATER — Knowing his players would be intently focused on every word that came out of his mouth, Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski wanted to be perfect when he stepped in front of the team.

With AirPods in his ears and the words on his phone, he prepared for the moment.

But then, the team bus pulled into Cowgirl Stadium, bringing an end to the karaoke contest before Gajewski got the microphone.

Gajewski hasn’t been overly worried about his Oklahoma State softball team’s mental state during its recent struggles, but he’s monitoring it closely.

Last Sunday’s six-hour ride from Lubbock, Texas, where the Cowgirls won two of three to snap a five-game losing streak, shone a light on the team’s emotions as the most intense and important stretch of the season arrives.

Seventh-ranked OSU (41-10, 10-5 Big 12) hosts top-ranked and two-time defending national champion OU (46-1, 15-0) in the three-game Bedlam series, beginning with a 6 p.m. Friday contest at Cowgirl Stadium.

That leads to the Big 12 Tournament, after which the seedings for the NCAA bracket will be set.

The Cowgirls remain focused on securing a top-eight spot, guaranteeing home field for the regional and super-regional rounds, giving them the best chance for a fourth straight trip to the Women’s College World Series.

More: Cowgirls reboot bats, but will it be enough for Bedlam?

But with seven losses in the last nine games, this team appears disjointed when compared to the team that won 39 of its first 42 games.

“I think we probably overblow, or overdo how bad it felt,” Gajewski said of the recent losses. “I don’t think it was as bad as it was. I mean, we lost games, and it’s a reminder that you gotta get better, a reminder that you’re never as good as you think you are and you’re never as bad as you think you are.

“Really happy with the work our kids have done. They put themselves in a great spot to finish strong and keep a top-eight RPI, which is No. 1 on our list, it’s really our first goal.”

The wins last weekend in Lubbock were helpful, but some of the benefit was dulled by a Wednesday night loss at North Texas. Still, the karaoke bus ride was an important sign that this Cowgirl team hasn’t fully lost its way.

Sitting in his seat Sundaynight, on a bus ride he calls one of the most fun he’s experienced, Gajewski prepared to sing “Shallow,” the hit song by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from the movie “A Star Is Born.”

Tell me somethin', girl; Are you happy in this modern world?

Or do you need more?; Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for?

Reflecting the song lyrics, Gajewski’s Cowgirls certainly seem to be searching for something in their modern world, where a team once ranked No. 2 in the nation has lost seven times in an 18-day span — a gut punch to a program that has become accustomed to winning in bulk.

Once among the top scoring offenses in the country, the Cowgirls have struggled to generate runs lately, despite having moderate success getting runners on base. The pitching and defense have had very few letdowns, but they’ve come at crucial times.

And from here on, something big will be on the line: Bedlam, a Big 12 title and WCWS pursuits.

More: Why OSU ace Kelly Maxwell doesn't go anywhere without super glue

Gajewski knows he needs to rely on the bonds built within the Cowgirl clubhouse.

This weekend, his team will celebrate the careers of several seniors, some of whom — like Kiley Naomi and Chyenne Factor — have been foundational pieces of the program that has been built at OSU.

Yet at the same time, OSU is relying more heavily on a freshman class than it has since these seniors were the new kids.

“It started off awesome,” Gajewski said of the blending of young and old. “Then it got to a point where it was tough, because you have these older kids are seeing the real light at the end of the tunnel. They want everything to be perfect, and when it’s not, it changes mentality. I think that’s a little bit of what we were going through over the last couple weeks.

“It’s a unique blend. We’re really young and real old, not a lot of in between there.”

These seniors are looking for something more than they’ve accomplished, which so far has peaked at a semifinal exit from the WCWS last year. And the freshmen are on the brink of full immersion in what college softball is really about.

And their reliance on each other is a critical piece of the Cowgirls’ potential success.

“It starts in the fall… just making sure everybody’s comfortable,” said Naomi, the super-senior shortstop who has anchored the offense in the third spot in the order. “I think us veterans did a really good job of having those freshmen feel really comfortable from the go. That’s why I think they’re performing really well and their adjustment to college softball has been really good.”

OSU will have to rely on some of those freshmen, whether it’s cleanup hitter Micaela Wark, pitcher Kyra Aycock, left fielder Tallen Edwards or third baseman Claire Timm, who stepped in as the starter last week for the first time all season.

More: Why Tallen Edwards chose to reclassify and join Cowgirl softball a year early

Building chemistry with the veterans wasn’t automatic.

“They were pretty scary at first,” Edwards said of the seniors. “But they’ve really been a huge help, even when it comes to things off the field. They’ve always been willing to have conversations with us when we have questions and guide us through this, because we’ve definitely needed their help.

“There’s been a whole lot of ups and downs. There’s times when you feel like you’re on cloud nine and times where you feel like you’re hitting your absolute rock-bottom.”

But the time for building is over. The next five weeks provide the test to see if what you built is strong enough.

One thing the recent losses have revealed is how significant opponents view it when they beat the Cowgirls.

“Our kids… they’re seeing the celebrations that are going on after we get beat,” Gajewski said. “I think that’s a little eye-opening to a lot of us. It reminds me that we’re doing good things, and it means a lot when you beat OSU.

“They’ve had a taste of that, and it makes it real easy for me to say, ‘You better buckle up, because it’s coming.’”

How to watch Bedlam softball: OU vs. OSU

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday (ESPN2), 4 p.m. Saturday (ESPN), 2 p.m. Sunday (ESPN+)

WHERE: Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State's Kenny Gajewski tells team 'buckle up' for OU softball