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Why Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski is comfortable with unsettled lineup

Scott Wright, The Oklahoman
·4 min read

STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State softball team is hitting the road for spring break.

Maybe Tulsa and Provo, Utah, are not the typical spring break hotspots, but they make for a busy week of softball, with four games in five days.

The Cowgirls are 9-1 in true road games this season and are carrying a five-game win streak overall, following a perfect week on the home field.

Here’s a look at what we learned about the Cowgirls last week:

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No. 4 Oklahoma State

  • Overall record: 24-3 (5-1 Big 12)

  • Last week: 4-0 (Beat Central Arkansas 8-0, beat UCF 2-0, 10-4, 6-4)

  • This week: at Tulsa, 5 p.m. Tuesday; at BYU (6 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday, TBD Saturday)

UCF's Ashleigh Griffin (27) tries to tag out Oklahoma State's Tallen Edwards (44) during the college softball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and the UCF Knights in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, March 15, 2024.
UCF's Ashleigh Griffin (27) tries to tag out Oklahoma State's Tallen Edwards (44) during the college softball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls and the UCF Knights in Stillwater, Okla., Friday, March 15, 2024.

Kenny Gajewski flexible with lineup

By this time of year, Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski is usually ready to solidify his starting lineup.

Don’t expect that this season.

While Gajewski is set with his infield, he used six different starters in the outfield over four games last week and knows he must continue to rotate the players in that group.

That didn’t include senior Scotland David, who has been a spot starter and frequently used backup this season, or Jilyen Poullard, who didn’t appear in a game all week.

“I’m in my ninth year and I’ve never been in this spot where I haven’t been locked in,” Gajewski said. “But I kinda like it. It’s keeping our dugout fresh. Macy Graf was on base five out of six at-bats. Katie Lott was going well, then she sprained her ankle here.

“I love what we’ve got. There’s a lot of pieces here. The best thing about them, they’re not down. They’re here to play.”

Of the regular group, five of them are batting .280 or better this season.

Claire Timm, who has played all three outfield spots, has been the only consistent starter among the group. The sophomore from Buena Park, California, has solidified herself high in the lineup, frequently batting second.

Last week, Timm went 5 for 13 with four RBIs and five runs scored. She is now batting .413 for the season, is perfect in four stolen base attempts and has scored 26 runs in 25 games, setting the table for the Cowgirls’ power hitters.

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OSU coach Kenny Gajewski talks with catcher Caroline Wang (66) at third base on Feb. 27 against South Dakota State.
OSU coach Kenny Gajewski talks with catcher Caroline Wang (66) at third base on Feb. 27 against South Dakota State.

Strong responses to struggles

OSU twice saw significant leads evaporate because of big innings by the Central Florida offense.

OSU led 4-0 on Saturday before UCF rallied to tie the game. Then the Cowgirls exploded for six runs to put the game away.

A day later, OSU’s 5-0 lead was cut to 5-4, but the Cowgirls immediately responded with an insurance run for the 6-4 win.

“I’m proud of that,” Gajewski said. “To be able to answer back is a huge deal. I think it’s a sign that we’re pretty dang good, when you can answer like that.”

More: Oklahoma State softball: Cowgirls attack early to finish off sweep of UCF

Hiccups for OSU pitching staff

After starting the week with 16 shutout innings, the Cowgirl pitchers gave up some hard contact over the final two days.

And no one was immune.

Kyra Aycock gave up four runs on three hits and two walks over 4 ⅔ innings in the 10-4 win Saturday. Ivy Rosenberry allowed a run on five hits over four innings of the 6-4 win Sunday before Lexi Kilfoyl allowed five more hits, including a three-run home run.

It was the most runs allowed in consecutive games since the Cowgirls gave up 19 over a three-game span against Georgia, Wisconsin and LSU in mid-February.

The Cowgirls still remain a top-20 pitching staff in the country with a team ERA of 1.62.

Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at swright@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ScottWrightOK. Sign up for the Oklahoma State Cowboys newsletter to access more OSU coverage. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State softball: Kenny Gajewski is comfortable with lineup