Kelly Maxwell and a couple transfers will lead the charge for the Oklahoma State pitching staff this season.
Coming off three straight Women’s College World Series appearances, Kenny Gajewski will have his best pitching staff to date that will lead the Cowgirls this year.
The main person in the circle will be Kelly Maxwell. She came on the scene last year posting an ERA of 1.22 and 313 strikeouts in 189 2/3 innings pitched.
Maxwell became the number one option after Miranda Elish went down late in the season for the Cowlgirls.
Maxwell’s stellar pitching all year led her to being named an NFCA First Team All-American in 2022.
She was also one of three pitchers named a Preseason First Team All-American by Softball America, joining Oklahoma’s Jordy Bahl and UCLA’s Megan Faraimo.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS 💪
See SA's first, second and third team selections here.https://t.co/xfit2AUqjb pic.twitter.com/oake2wZkwp
— Softball America (@SoftbalAmerica) January 30, 2023
She is not done after the 2023 season. Kenny Gajewski said that Maxwell is coming back after this year. Maxwell is looking to be the star that can lead the Cowgirls back to Oklahoma City.
Transfers coming in will look to keep Maxwell fresh this season. With Morgan Day and Miranda Elish gone, Lexi Kilfoyl and Ivy Rosenberry will bring the experienced arms to the pitching staff this year.
Kilfoyl comes from Alabama with 54 career appearances with an ERA of 2.06. She also does some hitting as she hit .308 last year. Gajewski and his staff will look to use her in different ways this spring.
Rosenberry comes from Virginia Tech with 11 appearances for the Hokies last season. A solid relief pitcher for the Hokies with 18 strikeouts in 19 innings-pitched.
Rosenberry is coming off her first career no-hitter last year against Longwood. She will look to prove herself for the Cowgirls this spring.
One of the fresh faces this year that could throw for the Cowgirls is Freshman Kyra Aycock.
Aycock was ranked 10th among all high school pitchers in Extra Innings Softball’s 2022 Extra Elite 100. Gajewski will look for her to grow as she goes on this spring and her career at Oklahoma State.
With Kelly Maxwell, and the mix of experienced transfers and fresh talent, OSU will once again be a problem in the circle in 2023.
