STANFORD – The California softball team fell 8-3 in its season opener with No. 24 Oklahoma State on Friday at the newly minted Stanford Softball Stadium. Head Coach Steve Singleton completed his first game as a Golden Bear as did a number of new faces that make up this year's roster.
 
With the loss the Golden Bears fell to 0-1 to begin 2026 while the Cowgirls improved to 2-1 having played yesterday and earlier this morning.
 
After allowing two runs to score in the top of the first inning the Bears punched right back and tied the game in the bottom half. Center fielder Kayli Counts collected a lead-off double to post the first hit of the season followed by a single from second baseman Emma Jackson. With runners on the corners, catcher Anya German collected an RBI groundout to cut the lead in half before first baseman Anaya Togia roped a double off the right field wall to tie the game at 2-2.
 
OSU answered with another two runs in the next half inning and made it a 7-2 game with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fourth right fielder Kyndall Todd became the first Bear to leave the yard sending a solo shot over the wall in dead center field to cut the lead to 7-3.
 
The Cowgirls capped off the day with a run in the seventh inning to make the final score 8-3.
 
Sophomore Kiki Mashhoud entered in relief in the fourth inning and had a strong outing tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless, two-hit ball. She collected two strikeouts and didn't allow any walks. Junior transfer Tamya Waiters finished the game allowing one run on one hit and a walk in the seventh.
 
Freshman pitcher Mya McGowan earned her first collegiate start against the nationally-ranked Cowgirls and went 3.1 innings allowing six earned runs on five hits and two walks to go with one strikeout.
 
Cal is back on the diamond tomorrow with a doubleheader against Oklahoma State and San Jose State. First pitch with the Cowgirls is set for 10:30 a.m.