The Cowgirl softball team has a lot to live up to.
About four months ago, OSU made its first appearance in the Women’s College World Series since 1998. The team was out after two games, but that didn’t take away from the excitement of being one of only eight teams to make it to the tournament.
Oklahoma State softball coach Rich Wieligman said that accomplishment forced higher expectations on the team.
“Yeah, there’s gonna be pressure, I think,” coach Rich Wieligman said. “But we just gotta play.”
After a 7-1 record in the fall season with an impressive 84 runs scored and 17 allowed, it would seem the team is right on track to another successful season. But the team’s success didn’t come without some adjustment.
The Cowgirls said goodbye to four seniors, two of which were the team’s top two hitters last year and crucial components of the infield.
Alysia Hamilton, former second baseman and ESPN.com All-American, and Mariah Gearhart, former third baseman and Second Team All-Big 12 selection, played vital roles in their years at Oklahoma State.
For senior shortstop Chelsea Garcia, it has been a change playing without Hamilton, for the two played together in high school, as well.
“I think we gradually got better,” Garcia said. “That was our struggle at the beginning of fall was to realize we had a really new infield and a lot of new girls. As the games went on our team chemistry got a lot better.”
Known for always being pumped up and never closing her mouth, Gearhart’s departure has also been noticed.
“In Arkansas we played, and I was about to run into a fence, and I didn’t hear anything, and I was like, “What is going on?” Garcia said. “It’s so weird not having her over there just all fun and yelling and screaming.”
But players come and go, and senior first baseman Julie Ward said the newer players are starting to fit in well.
“Obviously we’ve started to click,” Ward said. “Everything feels like it’s starting to flow, everything feels more natural. We’re definitely working well as a team.”
Wieligman said the fall season is a great time to evaluate freshman talent under manageable circumstances.
“It’s good because you get to play eight games without having the season on the line,” Wieligman said. “We get them in game situations and see how they perform. I was very impressed with the freshman class.”
Overall, Ward said she is proud of how the team did during the fall and is eager looking into the future.
“We just got to get out there and play Cowgirl softball,” Ward said. “We’re scrappy, we do what it takes. We work hard and good things happen from that.”