Oklahoma State University Athletics
Home Is Where The Cowboys Are
March 07, 2001 | Cowboy Baseball
March 7, 2001
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THIS WEEKEND
The Cowboys return home to begin a 11-game homestand, starting with a
single game against Southeast Missouri State on Thursday at 3 p.m. OSU will
welcome Princeton to Stillwater on Friday for the first of three contests
against the Tigers. Friday and Saturday's games are set for 3 p.m. starts
while Sunday's first pitch is slated for 11:30 a.m.
SCOUTING THE INDIANS
Southeast Missouri State enters Thursday's contest with a 7-4 record.
The Indians have won their last two contests and also own a three-game sweep
of Iowa State and a win over Ole Miss. Junior second baseman Clemente
Bonilla leads the Indians offensively with a .486 average. In 35 at-bats,
Bonilla has 17 hits, including six doubles, and has scored 10 times.
On the mound, Tommy Thomas, Todd Pennington and Brad Purcell have
registered three starts apiece. Despite sporting a 0.90 ERA, Thomas has
suffered two losses for SEMS against one victory.
The Cowboys won the last meeting between the two schools 10-5 back in
1997 and own a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
The Princeton Tigers will venture to Stillwater for the first time this
weekend and Friday's meeting will be the first ever between the two schools.
This weekend also marks the start of the 2001 season for the defending
Ivy League champions. Princeton finished last season with a 24-20 ledger and
a 13-7 record in conference play.
Senior first baseman Andrew Hansen heads the list of returning players.
Hansen hit .360 with five homers and 35 RBIs last season. Rightfielder Max
Krance chipped in with a .357 average four home runs and 47 RBIs.
On the mound, a trio of righthanders, Tom Rowland, Ryan Quillian and
David Boehle lead the staff. Rowland and Quillian combined for a 6-6 record
last season, while Boehle notched nine saves to go with a 1.91 ERA.
PROBABLES ON THE MOUND
On the hill for the Cowboys this weekend will be preseason All-Big 12
pick Josh Merrigan. Merrigan, a senior southpaw from Vermillion, S.D.,
jumped out to a 2-0 start, including a 12-strikeout performance against
Miami, before suffering his first loss of the season against Washington
State.
Last weekend, Merrigan took the loss against Kansas after giving up
four earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched.
On the season, Merrigan has hurled 28.2 innings, struck out 33 and
enters this weekend 3-2.
Also getting the nod this weekend will be junior Nick McCurdy. McCurdy, a
two-time draft choice of the Colorado Rockies, has made five appearances
this season, starting four times. On the season, he is 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA
and has 18 strikeouts in 21.2 IP.
Freshman Scott Baker will make his sixth career start this weekend. The
Shreveport, La., native has been impressive in his five appearances in the
orange and black.
Boasting a 3-0 record, Baker enters the weekend with a 3.33 ERA and 26
strikeouts. Baker, considered one of the top newcomers in the country
according to Baseball America, was a 36th round pick of the Pittsburgh
Pirates in the 2000 amateur baseball draft.
Sunday's starter is yet to be determined.
LAST WEEKEND
OSU won its second consecutive conference series to open league play 5-1.
The Cowboys rebounded from a 6-4 series-opening loss to the Kansas Jayhawks
to win the final two games in Lawrence, 16-5 and 4-3.
Sunday's game was shortened to seven innings due to the 10-run rule
being in effect. Nick McCurdy picked up his third win for the Cowboys, while
Nebasett Brown sparked OSU at the plate with two hits and four RBIs.
In the series finale, OSU held off a ninth-inning rally from the 'Hawks
to claim a 4-3 victory. KU scored two runs in the final frame before
freshman Shane Hawk left the tying run stranded to pick up his second save
of the season.
