Oklahoma State University Athletics
Let's Play Two
March 12, 2001 | Cowboy Baseball
March 12, 2001
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
THIS WEEKEND
The Cowboys welcome the Western Illinois Leathernecks to Stillwater for
a two-game mid-week series on Tuesday and Wednesday. The two-game set is
part of a long homestand for OSU, as the Cowboys are currently in the midst
of 11 consecutive games at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. The Pokes will
continue the string this weekend when the Texas Longhorns come to town for a
three-game Big 12 showdown. First pitch for both games is slated for 3 p.m.
SCOUTING THE LEATHERNECKS
Western Illinois enters the week looking for its first win of the
season. The Leathernecks are currently 0-12 and coming off a three-game
sweep at the hands of Central Florida in Orlando. WIU lost the three
contests 18-1, 12-0 and 6-3.
Western Illinois has lost three series (Louisiana-Lafayette, Stetson and
Central Florida) this season against teams that are or have been in the top
25 this season.
PROBABLES ON THE MOUND
A pair of Cowboys will be making their first career starts this week.
Darren Heal will get the nod on Tuesday after making four relief appearances
this season. In his career, Heal has made seven relief appearances and has
thrown 10 innings. In 5.1 innings of work this season, the righthander has
struck out five, walked six and given up five earned runs on five hits.
Justin Meccage, a junior righthander from Billings, Montana, will be
making his first appearance in a Cowboy uniform. Last season, Meccage posted
an 8-5 record with a 3.47 ERA at Arizona Western College. In 83 innings, he
struck out 74.
LAST WEEKEND
The Cowboys returned home to begin an 11-game homestand on Thursday with
a single game against Southeast Missouri State. The Pokes dropped the
Indians 10-4, getting strong offensive performances from Jos? Virgil and
Zach Cates. The duo combined to go 4-for-7 with four runs scored and five
RBIs. Southpaw Josh Merrigan tossed five innings to pick up his fourth win
of the season.
OSU continued the string on Friday as the Cowboys opened a three-game
series with Princeton. In the series opener, OSU got three-run home runs
>from Luke Scott and Jos? Virgil en route to picking up an 8-2 victory. Nick
McCurdy struck out six Tigers in six innings of work to move to 4-1 on the
season.
On Saturday, the OSU offense exploded for 28 runs on 27 hits en route to
a 28-2 triumph. Rob Watson paced the Pokes with a 4-for-5 showing with two
home runs and 6 RBIs. Freshman Scott Baker continued to impress as he upped
his mark to 4-0 on the season. The Pokes made it a weekend sweep with a 10-1
win on Sunday afternoon. Roy York had a career day, belting three home runs
in four at-bats. Freshman Jimmy Rhodes notched the win in his first career
start. The righthander tossed five innings, allowing no earned runs and
striking out five.
GORILLA BALL
The Cowboy offense unveiled another weapon against Southeast Missouri
State and Princeton last weekend?the long ball. Entering the weekend, the
Pokes had hit 16 home runs in 15 games. However, during the four-game
stretch, OSU left the yard ten times. Included in the slugfest was a
record-tying performance by senior Roy York. The outfielder was responsible
for four of the Cowboy dingers, launching three in Sunday?s win over
Princeton.
York joined the likes of Pete Incaviglia, Steve Dailey and Sean Hugo
as the only Cowboy sluggers to hit three home runs in a single game and is
the first to accomplish the feat since 1994.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
In their four wins over the weekend, OSU unleashed an offensive
onslaught that saw eight players, who registered at least five at-bats, hit
over .300. As a team, the Cowboys hit .408 and outscored the opposition
56-12. With their 24 extra-base hits, OSU also logged a .769 slugging
percentage over the four-game span.
