Oklahoma State Softball Loses Big 12 Opener, Faces Road NCAA Tournament

Oklahoma State's softball team was eliminated early in the Big 12 Tournament after a narrow 2-1 loss to Arizona State, marking their third consecutive first-game exit since their 2022 championship win. The game showcased a pitching duel between All-Big 12 First Team pitchers Ruby Meylan for OSU and Kenzie Brown for Arizona State, with Brown striking out 13 batters and securing the win. Arizona State took the lead with a solo home run by Samantha Swan in the fourth inning and extended it with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, despite OSU tying the game briefly in the fifth. OSU struggled offensively, leaving seven runners on base and managing only three hits, while their pitching limited Arizona State to four hits. This loss likely means OSU will not host an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2018 and will begin their NCAA Tournament on the road, awaiting the bracket announcement on Selection Sunday. Despite the defeat, OSU remains focused on their goal of making a sixth consecutive trip to the Women's College World Series.