What's on line for Oklahoma State softball in pursuit of top-8 seed for NCAA Tournament?

Kenny Gajewski is acutely aware of his Oklahoma State softball team’s spot in the Ratings Percentage Index this week.

No. 5, if you’re keeping track at home.

Yet Gajewski also knows he doesn’t want his team fixated on their position in the RPI as they try to secure a top-eight seed for the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re not gonna talk about a bunch of that stuff. We’re gonna talk about Kansas,” Gajewski said on Tuesday as he prepared for the team’s first practice since getting swept by top-ranked OU over the weekend. “We’re gonna play the Cowgirl way, I can tell you that. … I think our girls feel the same way. I think they’re ready to get back on the field and show that we are a top team.”

The college softball RPI is one of the best indicators of potential NCAA seedings, and OSU — which is No. 8 in the coaches’ poll — needs to maintain a strong RPI standing, if not improve it, at the Big 12 Tournament this weekend at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.

The Cowgirls open play at 3 p.m. Thursday against Kansas, broadcast on ESPN+. The conference on Wednesday announced earlier start times for all three first-round games in hopes of avoiding incoming weather.

More: Tramel: Bedlam foes can run, but they can't hide from NCAA postseason competition

In their regular-season series, OSU swept Kansas in Lawrence a month ago, then won its next four to conclude a stretch of 21 victories over 22 games.

But that’s when things went sideways in Stillwater. An April 16 loss to Iowa State kickstarted a spiral that has led to 10 losses in the last 12 for a Cowgirl team that was once ranked No. 2 in the nation.

So now, they find themselves trying to right the ship for the postseason, but with the added need to maintain a spot in the top eight, which would guarantee a host berth for the NCAA regional and super-regional rounds.

The players, of course, are saying all the right things regarding their concern for the seeding situation.

“I don’t really care, honestly,” super-senior catcher Taylor Tuck said. “We’re just playing softball. I try not to get distracted with anything that’s going on around me. I don’t really care where we play as long as we’re playing.”

Sure, they’d love to be on the home field in front of their 1,600 fans at Cowgirl Stadium, which saw a boost in capacity last week thanks to a set of temporary bleachers in right field. But getting back to winning softball games is the most important thing, and should help take care of the seeding.

“It would be nice to have home-field advantage and play in front of this crowd, because we all know how postseason gets around this community and how much our fans are into it,” super-senior designated player Morgyn Wynne said. “I think if we’re on a softball field, no matter if it’s here or anywhere, we’re gonna bring our A game. As long as we’re playing softball, and we’re playing OSU softball, it doesn’t matter where we are.”

More: Why OSU coach Kenny Gajewski tells his team to 'buckle up' for the stretch run

The Cowgirls have made the last three Women’s College World Series, earning a top-eight seed for the previous two. But in 2019, they went on the road and won a super-regional at Florida State with some key players who are in the current senior class.

So they won’t fear the road. But home is always more comfortable.

For anyone interested in scoreboard-watching over the weekend, the teams around the Cowgirls in the RPI include Florida State (4), LSU (6), Duke (7), Northwestern (8) and Louisiana (9).

At different times during the recent run of misfortune, OSU has experienced letdowns in different areas at different times, whether it was run production, a couple of rough pitching performances or some uncharacteristic defensive miscues that extended innings.

But Gajewski hasn’t sensed a feeling of gloom from his players, and he hopes that attitude is what helps their play return to the level it was when they won 39 of the first 42 games.

“I don’t think we’ve been in bad spirits, to be honest,” the coach said. “I feel good. I’ve never felt a bad vibe. I just feel like we’ve been trying to protect something that doesn’t matter, like a ranking, and playing a little bit not to lose instead of attacking and playing to win.

“We have to play to a 10. We have to be trying to exceed a 10. And if we don’t, we’re gonna continue to get beat and it’s gonna be an early exit. They responded to that well, they took ownership of that. We showed them that on video… and the way they responded was exactly what we wanted.”

More: Will Bedlam softball continue after OU moves to SEC? Both coaches are for it, but it's complicated

Thursday's games

At USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium

Game 1: No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 Iowa State, 10 a.m. (ESPN+)

Game 2: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 7 Texas Tech, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Game 3: No. 3 Oklahoma St. vs. No. 6 Kansas, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What's on line for Oklahoma State softball in pursuit of top-8 seed?