Oklahoma State vs. Stanford WCWS Preview and Prediction
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 Women’s College World Series matchup between No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 8 Stanford.
GAME INFO
Location: OGE Energy Field at Devon Park | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Time: Friday, May 31 | 8:30 p.m. CT | ESPN
Records: Oklahoma State (49-11); Stanford (48-16)
Rankings: Oklahoma State (No. 5 Seed); Stanford (No. 8 Seed)
Last Game: Florida def. Oklahoma State, 1-0; Texas def. Stanford, 4-0
Fun Fact: This matchup will pit the nation’s top two individual ERAs, as Stanford’s NiJaree Canady (0.76) and Oklahoma State’s Lexi Kilfoyl (1.07) were both finalists for the USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year, with Canady ultimately winning the award.
WCWS HISTORY
OKLAHOMA STATE COWGIRLS
- WCWS Appearances: 16 (Five consecutive appearances dating back to 2019)
- Championships: 0
- All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 75-52 (.591)
- All-Time WCWS Record: 25-31 (.446)
STANFORD CARDINAL
- Appearances: 4 (Second consecutive appearance)
- Championships: 0
- All-Time NCAA Record: 59-47 (.557)
- All-Time WCWS Record: 6-7 (.462)
KEY PLAYERS
OKLAHOMA STATE COWGIRLS
RHP Lexi Kilfoyl, Gr.
Lexi Kilfoyl was fantastic in last night’s loss to Florida, holding the fourth-best scoring offense in the nation to just 2-of-19 (.105) at the plate with two hits, one earned run, three walks, and five strikeouts. Unfortunately, one of those two hits was a solo shot from senior Katie Kistler, which ended up being the difference in the game. Through 177.0 IP, Kilfoyl still maintains the second-best ERA (1.07) in the nation and is holding opposing batters to a .170 average.
C Caroline Wang, Sr.
Oklahoma State managed just two hits of their own on Thursday night, and Caroline Wang and Lexi McDonald were the two players to crack the code on Keagan Rothrock. On Friday, the Cowgirls will face the best rise ball pitcher in the country, and perhaps the best that softball has seen in years. If the bats are going to find success against NiJaree Canady, it’ll start with Wang, who leads the team in average (.379), hits (69), home runs (17), RBIs (51), and slugging (.720).
STANFORD CARDINAL
RHP NiJaree Canady, So.
Stanford is in Oklahoma City because it has the best player in the country in NiJaree Canady. She leads the nation with a 0.76 ERA and a whopping 315 strikeouts on the year. She did struggle against Texas on Thursday, though, as the Longhorns recorded five hits, four earned runs, and four walks while limiting her to just five strikeouts. If she lacks the edge that we’ve seen from her this year again on Friday, Oklahoma State has the bats to stay alive.
INF Taryn Kern, So.
While she checks in at fourth on the team with a .280 batting average, sophomore infielder Taryn Kern is the X-Factor for the Cardinal offense. She leads the team in on-base percentage (.508), slugging (.518), runs (43), BBs (55), and HBP (22). In other words, Kern has a knack for getting on base and getting home. Unfortunately, she also leads the team with 50 strikeouts and has been a bit streaky at the plate at times. If she and the offense find a groove, though, Stanford becomes a force to be reckoned with.
KEY STORYLINE
A PITCHER’S DUEL FOR THE AGES
If you like low-scoring, dramatic back-and-forth pitching duels, this is the game for you. It’s not often that we see the nation’s top two pitchers going head to head, let alone in an elimination game that will send one of them home after going 0-2 in OKC. Canady vs. Kilfoyl has the makings of one of the most memorable pitching matchups that we’ve seen this season. What’s more is both of these aces will be making their second consecutive start after throwing complete games against two of the best offenses in the country. Both of them had zero run support last night, and both of them were bested by upstart freshmen who dazzled in their WCWS debuts. There couldn’t be more storylines for this one if you tried, and it’s crazy to believe one of their seasons will be ending.
PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA STATE ESCAPES, AND POTENTIALLY IN EXTRAS
Oklahoma State found itself on the wrong end of a 1-0 game on Thursday night, and in what was an underrated performance from Lexi Kilfoyl, the Pokes had every chance to win that game. In fact, a deep fly ball from Lexi McDonald was mere inches from tying the game late. Nonetheless, that heartbreaking loss mirrored Stanford’s disappointment in a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Texas. This game will be emotional, intense, and filled with nail-biting moments. However, I trust the Oklahoma State offense more than I do Stanford’s and Kenny Gajewski’s group will find a way to score that single run that evaded them last night. And, almost poetically, it will be enough to keep them alive.
