Oklahoma
How Karli Godwin anchored Oklahoma State softball’s offensive resurgence
Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski ‘feels good’ about Cowgirls’ progress
Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski ‘feels good’ about Cowgirls’ progress
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State pitcher Ivy Rosenberry hasn’t often needed a lot of run support from the Cowgirl offense when she has pitched this season.
But seeing the bats return to life over the weekend certainly brought some good vibes for Rosenberry and the pitching staff.
“It’s a great feeling,” she said. “I know they can always do it. Hitting is just like pitching. Some days are good, some days are bad. Everyone knows what we’re capable of. We’re one of the top offenses in the nation and that’s why we’re ranked No. 6.
“They’re always capable of it. Sometimes we hit a lull and it’s no big deal. We’re always gonna find the top. They did really good (over the weekend). It made me feel really good with runs on the board.”
After going through a rough patch that led to two losses at Iowa State, the Cowgirl offense returned to form by scoring at least six runs over all four wins last week, and is averaging 9.2 runs per game during its current five-game win streak.
Here’s a look at what we learned about the Cowgirls last week:
More: Oklahoma State softball wins series vs Texas Tech as Karli Godwin, Ivy Rosenberry shine
No. 6 Oklahoma State
- Record: 39-8 (16-5 Big 12)
- Last week: 4-0 (beat Wichita State 6-5, beat Texas Tech 11-3, 13-0, 6-4)
- This week: vs. North Texas, 6 p.m. Wednesday; vs. Kansas, 6 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday
Karli Godwin on a tear
Freshman Karli Godwin’s power has been obvious from her arrival, when she started piling up extra-base hits in mid-February.
And it was the talk of the weekend when she homered three times in the first two games against Texas Tech to tie, break and extend the Cowgirl freshman home run record, now at 12.
All of that came after her longest offensive dry spell of the season — three hitless games.
Yes, the longest stretch of games without a hit this season has been three in a row for the freshman, who raised her batting average to .340 with the five-game hitting streak she’s on now.
Godwin has hit safely in 33 of the 47 games this season and has the second-best slugging percentage on the team at .646, which is valuable considering she’s been providing protection in the batting order for OSU’s top power hitter, Caroline Wang.
And Godwin has been at the center of the recent resurgence with four home runs and eight RBIs in the last five games.
“It’s been really great for our confidence and showing everybody that, yeah, we might fall down, but we’re gonna come back and fight harder than ever,” Godwin said of the offensive bounceback. “We’ve got the confidence that we’re good and when we stay within ourselves, we can do crazy things.”
More: How opportunity, timing have come together for Oklahoma State softball’s Jilyen Poullard
Senior weekend
While the Cowgirls still have Bedlam, the Big 12 Tournament and what they hope is three weeks of NCAA Tournament games, this is the weekend they’ll celebrate their seniors with the final home games of the regular season.
While last year’s senior group was loaded with players who had been part of the development of the Cowgirl program after coming in as high school recruits, this year’s class highlights coach Kenny Gajewski’s prowess in the transfer portal.
Four of the five seniors to be recognized are transfers, with just one high school recruit — outfielder Scotland David.
Pitchers Lexi Kilfoyl and Ivy Rosenberry will be recognized along with first-year Cowgirls Caroline Wang and Jilyen Poullard.
Schedule change next week
If all goes right, the Cowgirls won’t have to leave the state of Oklahoma again this season.
They had just one such game left on the regular-season schedule, but that game has been canceled. OSU was set to visit Texas-Arlington next Wednesday, but instead, will try to schedule a meeting next year.
That means OSU’s remaining schedule includes four home games this week, Bedlam at OU and the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City. Then, if the Cowgirls land a top-eight seed, they’ll be set to host regionals and super regionals prior to the Women’s College World Series in OKC.
NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.
But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.
Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.
Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.
Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.
Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.
Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.
She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.
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In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.
Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.
Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.
The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.
Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.
The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.
In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.
Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.
Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City police are investigating an early morning shooting that left one man injured in northeast Oklahoma City.
Around 3 a.m. on Thursday, emergency crews were called to a reported shooting near Kelley and Wilshire Blvd.
Investigators say the shooting occurred between a couple inside the home, adding that the woman shot the man.
However, police say they are trying to determine if the shooting was accidental.
The victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
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The woman has been taken into custody for questioning, but it is unknown if she will face charges just yet.
Oklahoma is just three outs away from steamrolling through the right side of the bracket and knocking out Georgia to reach the championship finals.
To prepare, let’s take a look at what arms we should expect for the Sooners just like we did for the North Carolina earlier.
The Sooners have leaned heavily on their freshmen pitching trio in Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius and Nick Wesloski throughout Omaha. The first two went at least seven innings, while Wesloski tossed 5.2 innings on Wednesday. Even though they used relievers LJ Mercurius and Jackson Cleveland in the first two games, neither pitched more than two innings nor allowed a run.
If LJ, who entered for Wesloski on Wednesday, finishes the game, he will have gone 3.1 innings.
That sets up Oklahoma very well to matchup with UNC, which went 3-0 and also hasn’t used many arms up to this point.
If OU does win, expect Rager, Xander Mercurius and Cleveland to be ready to go. Rager, who hasn’t pitched since their first round game against Alabama on Saturday, June 13, would have a full week of rest.
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