Cowboys Knock Off No. 12 Missouri State

Tuesday, March 8

Springfield, Mo.

12:00:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

7-6

Missouri State

9-2

Oklahoma State

Missouri State

Garrett Benge

March 08, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Oklahoma State picked up its first win over a ranked team this season as the 22^nd-ranked Cowboys topped No. 12 Missouri State, 6-5, in 10 innings Tuesday at Hammons Field.

Garrett Benge came off the bench to have a big day at the plate for the Cowboys, who improved to 7-6 with the victory. OSU has now played eight games decided by one run this season and after dropping the first five of those contests, the Pokes have won their last three.

OSU's win also snapped Missouri State's six-game winning streak as the Bears fell to 9-2 on the year. The Cowboys have won six-straight games against MSU, all of those under head coach Josh Holliday.

Benge drove in the Cowboys' final three runs, and Trey Cobb worked the final 2 2/3 innings on the mound to pick up his first win of the season.

After leaving runners stranded in scoring position in each of the first two innings, the Cowboys got into the scoring column in the third.

Following a double steal by Garrett McCain and Donnie Walton, MSU starter Andy Cheray uncorked a wild pitch to bring McCain home with the game's first run. On the very next pitch, Dustin Williams crushed a two-run home run to right-center field to put the Cowboys up 3-0. The blast was Williams' team-leading third of the season and brought his team-high RBI total to 14.

The Cowboys' lead did not last long, however, as MSU tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the inning, two of them unearned.

Following a leadoff bunt single and consecutive walks, the Bears had the bases loaded and no outs against OSU starter Joe Lienhard. The freshman struck out the next MSU hitter, but on the next play a throwing error on a ground ball to second base brought home the Bears' first run.

Later in the inning, MSU would tie the score when reliever Remey Reed issued a walk with the bases full and then threw a wild pitch that plated the tying run.

The score remained deadlocked at 3-3 until the sixth when Matt Fultz put MSU on top for the first time with a solo homer to left field.
OSU entered the eighth inning down 4-3 and with just one hit on the day, but Walton got the inning started with a single. After Corey Hassel was hit by a pitch, Williams struck out and Jon Littell also went down on strikes.

With runners on second and third (compliments of a passed ball), Benge was sent to the plate as a pinch hitter. After falling behind in the count 1-2, he brought home both runners with a single to right field to put OSU up by a 5-4 margin.

That lead held until the ninth when with one out, Spencer Johnson deposited a pitch from Cobb over the wall in left-center field for a solo home run that tied the score.

But OSU answered in extra innings. Walton got things started with a leadoff double, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hassel. After Williams was intentionally walked, Littell dropped down a bunt single to load the bases.

That once again brought up Benge in a clutch situation – and once again he delivered, lining a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Walton with what proved to be the winning run.

The Bears made things interesting in the bottom of the 10^th, getting a one-out double to put the tying run on second, but Cobb retired the next two batters to seal the win.

OSU returns to action Friday when the Cowboys open a three-game series against Abilene Christian at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. First pitch of the opener is scheduled for 4 p.m.