‘You’d Be Lying If You Said It Wasn’t Nerve-Racking’: Cowboys Discuss Getting into the NCAA Tournament Field

STILLWATER — The NCAA baseball selection show has been more of a formality for the Cowboys the past handful of years, but not this year.

Oklahoma State has hosted the past three seasons, meaning they went into the selection show just waiting to see who was coming to Stillwater. But the Cowboys were 19-21 entering the month of May. Many counted them out before the Pokes closed on a 9-2 spree to get back into tourney contention. OSU got in and will head to the Athens Regional along with Georgia, Duke and Binghamton, but there was a wonder heading into the selection show.

“Little nerve-racking going in,” junior outfielder Nolan Schubart said. “But also what we’ve done the past month, really, and how we’ve finally been able to click together, everything working how we knew it could, put a lot of ease in a lot of guys’ minds. But you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t nerve-racking, but when we finally saw our named called and we were going to Athens, it was a surreal moment in that the adrenaline pumping through you that you got the chance and you’re in is something special.”

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

5⃣0⃣ th time, never gets old#GoPokes pic.twitter.com/os1psxkFdy

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) May 26, 2025

It’s the 12th season in a row the Cowboys have made the NCAA Tournament field and the 50th NCAA Regional bid in OSU’s history. Those 12 years in a row mark the fourth-longest active streak nationally, and continue OSU coach Josh Holliday’s streak at taking the Pokes to the postseason in all of his season as the head coach.

“As I told the players, I’m not an optimist — I’m a realist,” Holliday said. “But I had an unbelievably positive feeling about them because of the players. I just sensed that something about the way they continued to do this, something good was going to happen for them. I truly believed that. These guys can tell you, I don’t sugarcoat things, but I’ve believed that and I’ve felt it. That feeling was tested the way the other tournaments played out. But I just felt like something was in store for these guys because they stayed true to their commitment as a team. …

“It was actually kind of enjoyable because I think your belief is tested a little bit but also, it some ways I think it continues to bring us closer together. Really just part of the experience. I don’t want to be in that position, but this is a really, really competitive time right now and we’re proud of where we sit.”

After the ups and downs of a season that saw OSU start 1-6 in Big 12 play, everyone is 0-0. Although the Cowboys would prefer to not sweat it out on selection day, it sounded as if drama as to whether the Cowboys would be in the field made their inclusion all the more sweet.

“Probably the most excited and rewarding feeling that I’ve had in quite some time,” Holliday said. “It 100% is about (the players) and their willingness to continue to lay it on the line for their team and the program, their school. …

“In a day and age where the mindset of many young athletes and people in sport is to cut bait and run when things don’t go well, these guys just reaffirmed the magic in staying with something. I admire them, and I appreciate them. I’m thrilled for them. The coolest part is we’re playing well, and we’re excited to keep competing because we believe we can go make some noise.”

Holliday, Schubart and Bodendorf Discuss Regional

Regional Schedule

Friday, May 30
Game 1 – Binghamton vs. Georgia, 11 a.m.
Game 2 – Oklahoma State vs. Duke, 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 31
Game 3 – Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 11 a.m.
Game 4 – Winner G1 vs. Winner G2, 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 1
Game 5 – Winner G3 vs. Loser G4, 11 a.m.
Game 6 – Winner G4 vs. Winner G5, TBA

Monday, June 2
Game 7 – Winner G6 vs. Loser G6 (if necessary), TBA
(Times subject to change for TV purposes)