Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Miami Fla
Oklahoma State Baseball Pounds Miami, 9-3
February 11, 2001 | Cowboy Baseball
Feb. 11, 2001
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Oklahoma State's baseball team scored nine unanswered runs to upend the fourth-ranked Miami Hurricanes Sunday afternoon before 1,853 fans at Mark Light Stadium.
The Cowboys (6-1) fell behind 3-0 in the second inning when the Hurricanes' Kevin Brown blasted a three-run shot off of OSU starter Josh Merrigan.
Merrigan (2-0) dominated Miami the rest of the way, pitching 7.1 innings and scattering five hits. The senior lefthander struck out a career-high 12, while issuing only three walks.
UM's Jeff Reboin suffered his first loss of the season as the Canes fell to 6-2 on the season.
OSU got on the board in the third when catcher Ryan Budde roped an offering from Miami starter Chris Sheffield over the left field wall for his second home run of the season.
The Pokes pulled even in the fourth inning when sophomore Kyle Smith launched a two-run homer off Sheffield, forcing the righthander from the game despite his eight strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.
In the seventh inning, OSU jumped out in front on third baseman Rob Watson's RBI single into centerfield that scored pinch-runner Roy York.
The Cowboys added an insurance run in the eighth before exploding for four runs in the ninth to secure the win.
In the last stanza, Budde led off with a double and came around to score on a single by Watson. Designated hitter Jos? Virgil added a two-run double and later scored the Cowboys' final run on a single by rightfielder Luke Scott.
Sophomore righthander Mike Miller relieved Merrigan in the eighth and picked up his second save of the season.
Budde, a preseason All-America selection, led OSU's offensive attack. The Midwest City, Okla., native finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a run batted in.
The Cowboys will return to action this weekend when they open up their home schedule with a three-game series against Washington State.
