Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Nebraska
Oklahoma State Eliminated From Big 12 Baseball Tournament
May 18, 2000 | Cowboy Baseball
May 18, 2000
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Aaron Gozart and Jamal Strong hit run-scoring singles in the ninth inning Thursday to lead Nebraska past Oklahoma State 7-5 in an elimination game at the Big 12 Tournament.
The Cowboys had rallied to tie the game at 5-5 on Carlos Gautreaux's RBI single in the eighth. But Nebraska loaded the bases in the ninth, then Gozart and Strong produced their big back-to-back hits.
The second-seeded Cornhuskers (43-15), upset by seventh-seed Missouri Wednesday, advance to play the loser of Thursday night's Oklahoma-Missouri game.
"It was a good win for us," said Cornhuskers coach Dave Van Horn. "We did a good job of bouncing back from yesterday's game. Our backs were against the wall and we came out and played well. We picked up key hits and got solid pitching when it mattered today."
The sixth-seeded Cowboys (36-22) have now lost five straight tournament games dating back to 1998 and are two-and-out victims for the second year in a row. An NCAA Tournament qualifier the past 19 seasons, OSU's chances of extending that streak are considered slim, with regional pairings due to be announced Monday.
"I feel empty," said Cowboys coach Tom Holliday. "I don't really have a feeling of our chances. With every upset, our chances get slimmer. If one of our top teams wins this tournament, we have a chance. If not, I know we don't have a chance."
Both teams used five pitchers trying to avoid elimination in a game that featured 24 hits and 13 walks.
Oklahoma State's Luke Scott had the only home run, while nine different Cornhuskers finished with at least one hit.
