Cowgirl Softball: Ole Miss Transfer Pitcher Payton Kennedy Commits to Oklahoma State

The Cowgirls are adding an underclassman arm from the SEC.

Ole Miss transfer Payton Kennedy announced her commitment to Oklahoma State on Thursday. She was a freshman with the Rebels last season, throwing just seven innings where she had a 6.00 ERA. Although she wasn’t credited with any at-bats in her freshman season, Kennedy was listed as a pitcher/utility player on the Ole Miss roster.

 

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A 5-foot-11 righty, Kennedy was a blue-chip recruit coming out of Santa Margarita Catholic in San Clemente, California. She was the No. 25 prospect in Extra Innings Softball’s Extra Elite 100. She was an All-State selection and was also named her high school team’s offensive player of the year at one point.

Kennedy is the fifth portal addition the Cowgirls have made this offseason. Of those, four pitched at least a little bit during the 2026 season, though Madison Hartley (Houston) and Kendra Lewis (Wisconsin) were more primarily used in the field. Delainey Everett (Mississippi State) had been the group’s only primary pitcher before Kennedy’s addition.

Pitching is the Cowgirls’ biggest question mark of the offseason. Ruby Meylan and RyLee Crandall each finished out their eligibility, while freshman Preslee Downing has since transferred to North Texas.

OSU Softball Portal Commits