Oklahoma State travels to Hall of Fame Stadium for the Big 12 Tournament. The Cowgirls face sixth-seeded BYU (30-22, 11-16 Big 12) on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Should they win that one, Oklahoma State will likely face second-seeded Oklahoma (46-6, 22-5 Big 12) in the semifinals on Friday at 5 p.m. The winner will advance to the championship on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., which will likely feature top-ranked Texas (45-6, 23-4 Big 12).

Tulsa World Sports Extra Show: Bill Haisten anticipates OSU will reward their stellar softball coach as the athletics department gave raises to previous coaches.

1. Ivy’s injury

Pitcher Ivy Rosenberry battled what she thought was a sore rib for a while now. Then, on April 30, following an increased pain in the series against Kansas, an MRI revealed that the rib was actually fractured. The Oklahoma State senior didn’t let that stop her from throwing 8 ¹/³ innings against the Sooners last weekend.

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On Tuesday, Rosenberry confirmed that she could not make the injury worse, but she did admit that rotating her body to release pitches does hurt.

“Rolling over in my bed is probably the hardest thing,” she said. “Because you don’t realize how many muscles you use to roll your body over, but it hurts.”

Rosenberry confirmed the injury will not fully heal until after the season ends. One of the ways she’s attacking the injury involves an ultrasound treatment designed to promote bone growth. She’s also working on some breathing exercises designed to help Rosenberry control her breathing inside the circle since breathing heavily also hurts.

2. A bigger role coming for Kyra

Sophomore Kyra Aycock didn’t see a ton of action in conference play this season, but she started inside the circle during the first game in the Bedlam series, limiting the Sooners to one hit in three innings.

She also finished the final Bedlam game, in part because Oklahoma State coaches didn’t want to let their likely Big 12 semifinal opponent get any more practice against Lexi Kilfoyl.

“I’ve told Kyra forever that we’re going to need her, and she doesn’t believe me some days,” Rosenberry said. “But I tell her constantly, Kyra, we will need you and last year I was kind of in the situation, not necessarily in Kyra’s shoes, but sometimes you’re just there to buy outs.”

BYU beat Oklahoma State 11-8 in their second meeting this season after dropping the first game 3-2.

With Rosenberry’s injury, the Cowgirls might need even more from Aycock in the Big 12 Tournament and throughout the rest of the postseason.

3. Cowgirls aren’t afraid

Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski called the Sooners bullies following Saturday’s 6-2 series clinching win. He didn’t take any of that back on Tuesday.

“They’re not dirty, they’re not mean, but when they are slamming bats on walks, that is trying to bully somebody,” Gajewski said. “Like you just walked, I don’t know why you are slamming a bat, okay. And it gets their crowd going and then their crowd is on you.

“It is part of everything. They have earned that over 30 years. It is crazy. It is why it is so hard to win there, so hard to beat them if they are here. It is just how they play. It is not how I want my team to play, but I respect the hell out of that.”

On Saturday, Gajewski also said he is upfront with potential recruits that he is “looking for kids that have the guts to beat” the three-time defending champions. It certainly seemed to work last weekend.

“Walking into the series we were really confident,” Oklahoma State sophomore Micaela Wark said. “I think that is special. I think a lot of teams see OU and they kinda back up on their heels and they are a little more scared, but I think what is special about this team is we are not scared of anything.”

Oklahoma State is 6-3 against likely Big 12 Tournament opponents BYU, Oklahoma and Texas this season.

Scouting the opponent: BYU beat Oklahoma State 11-8 in their second meeting this season after dropping the first game 3-2. The Cougars are the only team outside of Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to win more than one game against any of those three teams. The Cougars were also the only team outside the big three to put more than one player on the Big 12 First Team when shortstop Ailana Agbayani and first baseman Huntyr Ava earned their spots on Wednesday morning. Agbayani leads the team in both batting average (.434) and on-base percentage (54.7). Ava leads the Cougars with 12 home runs this season.

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