money OSU softball rewind: Cowgirls rolling strong with seven-game win streak after Texas Tech sweep
STILLWATER — Kenny Gajewski feels a nagging pain every time he has to fill out a lineup card for a game.
The Oklahoma State softball coach has a problem he’s not used to. He has more good hitters than he can fit in his lineup, and Sunday’s game against Texas Tech was a prime example.
Neither Hayley Busby nor Morgyn Wynne were in the starting lineup, despite the fact that they were both among the Big 12’s leaders in home runs last season, combining for 36.
“I feel bad every day, because there are two or three kids who are needing at-bats,” Gajewski said. “I think that’s kind of an interesting dilemma and a good problem. I hate it for those kids, but they’re grinding. We’re gonna need everyone. The depth is real.”
The Cowgirls got to show their depth with the weekend’s three-game sweep of Texas Tech at Cowgirl Stadium in the Big 12 Conference opener.
Here’s a look at what we learned about OSU softball over the weekend:
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No. 7 Oklahoma State
Overall record: 24-6
Last week: 3-0 (Beat Texas Tech 7-0, 9-1, 16-2)
This week: vs. Tulsa, 6 p.m. Wednesday; three-game series at Baylor (6:30 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday)
Hot offense sparks win streak
While pitching was the most consistent piece of OSU’s play through the non-conference portion of the schedule, the offense has come alive in the last couple of weeks.
The Cowgirls scored 32 runs on 31 hits in three games against Texas Tech, and that’s been the key to the team’s seven-game winning streak.
The Cowgirls have five run-rule victories in that span, and have scored at least seven runs in each game, averaging 9.6 runs per game.
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Mirada Elish can’t miss
One of the players Gajewski has been trying to get in the batting order on a more regular basis is pitcher/designated player Miranda Elish.
The senior transfer from Texas was 8-for-8 over the weekend with four home runs — including a grand slam and a two-run homer in the same inning on Sunday — a double, nine RBIs and five runs scored.
Gajewski has been using her regularly in the pitching rotation, but more sparingly as a hitter, because of the depth in the lineup. But Elish is forcing her way into the batting order.
After her incredible weekend, Elish now has the team’s highest batting average at .462, on-base percentage at .563 and slugging percentage at .872.
She has made only 17 starts as a hitter, but has hit safely in her last six games and in her last nine consecutive at-bats.
Kelly Maxwell as strong as ever
OSU starting pitcher Kelly Maxwell thrust herself into the role of staff ace after the graduation of Carrie Eberle last year, and Maxwell has shown the talent to be worthy of that role on a top-10 team.
The junior left-hander threw a no-hitter in Friday’s 7-0 win over Texas Tech, walking three and striking out 16. She followed that up with three strong innings on Sunday, getting an early exit because of the Cowgirls’ double-digit lead.
Maxwell had eight strikeouts in three innings, allowing a run on two hits. She’s 11-0 on the season with seven complete games out of her 12 starts.
Her 145 strikeouts rank 15th nationally, and she has fewer total appearances (14) than any of the pitchers ahead of her. She’s fifth nationally in strikeouts per seven innings at 12.7.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State softball rolling strong with 7-game win streak
