Inside Oklahoma State Softball: Cowgirls Refocus for 2026

Back to the Cowgirl Way: Oklahoma State Tightens the Standard in Stillwater

Coach Kenny Gajewski and freshman Jayelle Austin. (Photo Credit: OSU Athletics)

Stillwater Reset

Stillwater, Oklahoma is where Coach Kenny Gajewski and the Oklahoma State Cowgirls Softball team are working to get back on track for 2026. The Cowgirls missed Oklahoma City for the first time in several years last season, and Coach Gajewski has tightened things up with a stronger mindset and attention to how they go about their work.

This year’s team is a mix of veterans and newcomers, and the depth looks promising. During our conversation, Coach G shared insights on several players, discussed what a projected lineup might look like if the season started today, and spoke about just how much talent this group has.

Last season, the Cowgirls finished 35-20, but they were not far from ten more wins, as those games were decided by only one or two runs. Gajewski admitted the offense struggled, but confidence has returned after some tweaks over the summer and fall, along with a few new additions.

“Yeah, I mean, you can say it, Charles. It wasn't very good for us, for our standards. I'm okay with that. I think Coach Shippy would tell you the same thing. It was very disappointing for us,” said Gajewski. “We've adjusted the way we're competing in practice. I think that's helping out. I'm very happy with that. Last year, that was our issue. We just didn't hit enough and we underachieved. That's the bottom line. We underachieved. However that happened, if it's coaching, if it's players not playing to their abilities, there's no finger pointing here. We just underachieved.”

Accountability For All

Now, a new season begins. Whatever went wrong last year, Gajewski has made adjustments to how things are done around Stillwater. Everyone now dresses the same for workouts and follows details that might seem small to outsiders but build accountability and focus. I asked him how long things like that had gone unchecked, and he admitted that winning can hide a lot while taking blame.

“I think it falls on me. I think maybe I didn't keep them as accountable as I should have and I knew how talented we were. I knew what kind of a fall that we got off to,” he said. “I knew how good that was and I think I made a fatal mistake as a coach and I let them skip some steps. And when you skip steps, they're gonna catch you. I won't do that again, I can promise you that.”

The effort and care were always there. It was not a matter of trying to cut corners. Gajewski simply believed the team could handle what was expected of them. It is back to the exact standard now, every detail will matter.

“So I just told them at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, hey, I'm going to go back to some little things that have kind of been irritating me and it really come back on me because I've let them slide. Things like when we're lifting weights, everybody wearing the exact same thing. I told them the color socks you wear is going to matter. That's the details. It's everything that we do.”

The buy in was and is there, and Coach knows for a fact that this team does not want to end the season early like last year. He doubled down on taking accountability for allowing things to slip as they did, and sees the growth already this fall.

“They don’t want to end like last year, and they were all in from the start. If you weren’t all in, then this probably wasn’t the right place for you to be, and we made that clear and fair. Like always, if something’s on me, I’m going to wear it. I’m going to be vulnerable and honest about how I feel. This team has done a really nice job. We still have some things to get better at and clean up, but I’m pretty pleased with where this team is at right now.”

Ruby Meylan pitched vs. Witicha State, Thursday, October 16, 2025, Cowgirl Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Chloe Reeves/OSU Athletics.

Pitching Depth Building Back Up

Oklahoma State returns senior Ruby Meylan in the circle. Meylan carried a heavy load in 2025, throwing 209 innings according to 64 Analytics. She struck out 238 hitters, posted a 1.81 ERA, and finished with a 21-10 record.

Senior RyLee Crandall is also back and healthy after missing significant time last season with a knee injury. Crandall logged 64.2 innings in 2025, and if she stays healthy, Gajewski believes she can easily double that workload.

“She's pitching very well this fall, hasn't missed a day, she's been healthy. We've learned some things about her. She's learned some things about herself, some things to be aware of,” he said. “I think she and Carrie have worked hard to embrace some of the things that she does and figure out how we can help some of the wear and tear that she's put on her body over the life of a pitcher. She's been really good this fall. We just need her to keep being who she is.”

Freshman Preslee Downing, a late signee in July, has also worked some this fall. “I expect her to get some decent innings. She's a strike throwing machine. She's really competitive, maybe better than I could have hoped.”

Redshirt freshman Madison Hoffman is back from a knee injury as well, and Gajewski likes how the entire staff is progressing.

New Faces, Fresh Energy

The Cowgirls were active in the transfer portal this offseason and brought in several additions, one of whom has been a pleasant surprise to Gajewski, Kaya Booker from Georgia Tech. Booker redshirted last season as a freshman before coming to Stillwater, and she has shown real potential at the plate.

“Yeah, she's probably been the biggest surprise of the whole team, I would say. She's got real talent. She's a little bit behind in some things, but I would anticipate her playing probably more in the DP role or getting some some pinch hitting role stuff running. She can really run, do some things, but she's got some tools in her bat that I don't think even we know that she had. She's played very well, been very successful all fall, done some really nice things. I think her future here is bright.”

Melina Wilkison, who came in from Indiana after spending three years at Ohio State, is another player who has impressed. Gajewski called her a gamer who is adapting to the Cowgirl way and providing a spark this fall.

“She's been unbelievable. We moved her to left field, and she’s been leading off all fall. We didn’t start her there the first couple of games, but once we moved her, it felt completely natural. I knew she was fast. I just didn’t know she was this fast. There are kids who run fast, and there are kids who run fast but don’t play fast. Then there are kids who run fast and play fast. And finally, there are kids who are just flat out elite fast, and she’s that. She’s fast and elite fast. It’s crazy," said Gajewski.

He went on to say more about Wilkison, and it seems that she will be a ball of great fire for the Cowgirls. The energy that this team needs.

"It’s been a lot of fun to watch her. I really wish we had her for four years here, but we’ll make the most of the one year we do have. She’s such a fun kid to be around. She brings energy, she brings juice, sometimes it’s a little out of control, but I’ll take that over the alternative any day. She’s been a really fun kid to coach and to be around.”

Emerging Freshmen Making an Early Impression

Two freshmen have already started turning heads this fall, showing why the future of Oklahoma State Softball looks bright.

Jayelle Austin has brought a fearless edge to center field and continues to impress her head coach.

“Yeah, she's a special, special player. More importantly, a special kid playing center field. I anticipate her being in the lineup. Had a great fall. Can really do some things. Fearless in the outfield. Had a kind of an up and down fall. She got off to a really hot start, then kind of cooled off and then kind of heating back up. So just learning the different parts of facing, you know, pitchers like Ruby Meylan and a pitching coach that once they see your weaknesses can get you out and keep hitting spots until you make your adjustment. So I think that's something new for her, but very proud of the work, very proud of the effort that she gives every day here. It's it's really refreshing and and she's a kid that I think we're counting on to do some really nice things here at OSU.”

Another name Gajewski singled out was Gabby Castillo, who has already proven she can make an impact. She is till coming along as most are as freshmen, but the promise is there.

"She's been the best freshman that we've had all fall by far, not even close. So she's going to be in the lineup. So she's a left handed hitting catcher, probably not ready to catch yet. We've kind of moved her to second base because of her speed and her arm and her bat. She's just been elite with the bat all fall."

Both Austin and Castillo have made their presence felt early, showing confidence, maturity, and competitiveness that fits right into the Cowgirl standard.

Jayelle Austin stands at second vs. Wichita State. (Photo Credit: OSU Athletics)

Projected Lineup Taking Shape

When asked how the lineup might look if the season started today, Gajewski didn’t hesitate to share what he’s seeing so far. This was just an on the spot question for Coach. This in no way means that it will be this way in February.

“Well, I think we would probably go Wilkinson in left, Jayelle Austin in center, Tia Warsop in right, Karli Godwin at first, Jayden Jones or Gabby Castillo at second base, Aubrey Jones at short, Rosie Davis at third, probably a shocker for some people. Hasler at catcher, Ruby in the circle, and then I would say you've got Claire Timm, Kaya Booker, Jayden Jones fighting for that DP role. To be honest, those would be probably your top three there.”

He added that it’s still early and that several players are starting to turn the corner after battling through the normal ups and downs of fall ball. Gajewski was very open and wasn't shying away from any truths.

“There's a lot of things to change and to add in there. Libby Jaques is a freshman that's had a hard time, but boy, when it goes good, it's really, really special good. Some of these kids have never struggled like they have here. It's just the road and the path. So if we can keep their minds good and keep them steady, they'll be just fine.”

That lineup showcases a mix of returning power and new speed, a group built to create pressure and versatility throughout the order.

Returning Core and Offensive Identity

Behind the new faces, Oklahoma State still leans on a strong veteran core that includes Karli Godwin, Rosie Davis, and Amanda Hasler, a group Gajewski described potentially as, "good as any three in the country in one lineup." The emphasis this fall has been on quality at-bats, situational awareness, and execution under pressure.

Those one or two run games that slipped away last spring are the exact ones Oklahoma State wants to flip this time around. Gajewski said he’s already seen a major shift in how his players are competing, especially with the younger hitters embracing the challenge early.

A Relentless Schedule Awaits

There’s no easing into 2026 for the Cowgirls. They have Stanford, a tough set in Clearwater, and face Nebraska three times in a home tournament. Add in matchups against Oklahoma, and the Big 12 conference and it’s clear that Oklahoma State will have a great opportunity to put together a strong resumé in 2026.

He knows the grind of that schedule will prepare his team for where they want to be in May. “You know me, I'm not trying to chase wins. I'm trying to get to OKC and have a chance to win the last game. And if we're not good enough, at least we'll know and we'll know going in and we'll know right away what we got to get better at.”

Final Thoughts

The message in Stillwater is clear. The Cowgirls are getting back to the Cowgirl way in 2026 that Coach Gajewski has helped build. After a season that fell short of their own expectations, the minds have been reset. The culture is firm, the roster is deep, and the accountability is back where it belongs.

“We still got a long way to go, but I really like who we are and who we’re developing into,” Gajewski said. “It’s been a very refreshing group with just eight or nine freshmen. We’ve got some really good kids here and some really talented kids, and they’re getting better. It’s been fun to watch.”

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Full Interview Audio with Coach Gajewski

Inside Oklahoma State Softball: Cowgirls Refocus for 2026

Charles Mays

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