Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
San Francisco
Oklahoma State Edges Past San Francisco 9-8
April 10, 2002 | Cowboy Baseball
April 10, 2002
STILLWATER, Okla. - First baseman Zach Cates three-run double in the bottom of the seventh broke open a 4-4 ball game as Oklahoma State held on to defeat San Francisco 9-8 in baseball action Wednesday evening at Reynolds Stadium.
The Cowboys loaded the bases with three straight walks to open the inning before Cates bases clearing double gave OSU a 7-4 lead.
The Dons scored a run in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-5 before the Cowboys responded with two runs of their own in to extend the advantage to 9-5. The first OSU run was scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Jason Jaramillo while the second run scored on a RBI triple by center fielder Jeff Salazar.
San Francisco rallied for three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth, two of the runs coming via a home run by shortstop Armand Gaerlan to cut the lead to 9-8. Junior John Forrest came into the game to strikeout left fielder Joe Jacobitz to pick up his first career save.
Cates finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs to lead the Pokes while first baseman Nick Cirbo led the Dons with a 3-for-4 showing and two RBIs.
The Cowboys improved to 24-8 overall while the Dons dropped their ninth straight game to drop to 8-29.
Shane Hawk pitched one and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win and move to 3-3 on the season while Steve Moses took the loss for USF to drop to 1-1.
OSU took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI ground out by Daylon Monette, but USF responded with two runs of their own in the second on a two-run homer by center fielder Royce Fukuroku, his third of the year.
The Dons added to the lead in the fourth on a solo homer by Nick Cirbo off of Cowboy starter Mike Miller, to make it 3-1.
Daylon Monette tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer to straight away center field.
San Francisco took the lead again in the sixth when Nick Cirbo belted a RBI double to left scoring Armand Gaerlan. The Dons then attempted to add to the lead when catcher Steve Booth singled to right, but Monette threw Cirbo out at the plate.
OSU tied the game at 4-4 in its half of the sixth on a bases loaded walk by shortstop Rob Watson.
Oklahoma State will be back in action this weekend against instate rival Oral Roberts in a three-game series. The teams will open play in Stillwater on Friday at 7 p.m. and play again on Saturday at 2 p.m. The series will move to Tulsa for a 3 p.m. game on Sunday.
