OSU Softball: Cowgirls Drop Season Opener to No. 17 Stanford

The Cowgirls are 0-1 for the first time since 2020.

Oklahoma State dropped its season opener to No. 17 Stanford 4-2 on Thursday night in California as part of the Stanford Invitational.

Tia Warsop drew a four-pitch walk to start the game before Zoe Prystajko struck out three straight. The Stanford starter finished with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work.

The Cardinal got on the board early. Stanford lead-off hitter Taryn Kern doubled to left and advanced to third on an error before River Mahler drove her in with a single to right.

Returning All-American Ruby Meylan shut the Cardinal down for the next three innings, but she wasn’t getting much offensive support.

The Cowgirls next hit came when Karli Godwin doubled to left to start the fourth, but the base runner didn’t advance any further.

Then Stanford got two more across the plate in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead before the Cowgirl offense finally showed some signs of life.

OSU put together a bit of a two-out rallie when Claire Timm had an infield single before freshman Jayelle Austin hit the first home run of the Cowgirls’ season, a two-run shot to right field.

Someone go get that ball 🗣️

The first home run in Stanford Softball Stadium history belongs to Jayelle Austin 🤠#GoPokes | @austin_jayelle pic.twitter.com/35w6kQvXxV

— OSU Cowgirl Softball (@cowgirlsb) February 6, 2026

Stanford tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2. The Cowboys went down in order in the top of the seventh, ending the game.

The Cowgirls went 4-for-26 at the plate and were struck out 11 times in total.

Meylan threw all six innings the Cowgirls’ defense was on the field, giving up the four runs on 10 hits while walking one and striking out six.

OSU won’t have to sit on this loss long. The Cowgirls are back in action at 1:30 p.m. Friday with a game against San Jose State before playing Cal at 4 p.m.