Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Blast Missouri Southern 22-1
March 17, 2003 | Cowboy Baseball
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State baseball team (1-0) opened its 1999 season in impressive fashion with a 22-1 win over Missouri Southern Sunday afternoon at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
Senior shortstop Billy Gasparino was the offensive catalyst for the Cowboys going 3 for 4 with two home runs and six RBIs. Also hitting home runs were rightfielder Lamont Matthews and designated hitter Trent Kitsch.
The Cowboy pitching staff limited the Lions to only one run while striking out 10. Sophomore pitcher Matt Smith (1-0) earned the win by hurling three innings of shutout ball while not allowing a hit. Junior Thom Dreier pitched three innings of two-hit relief and was followed by newcomer Denny New who tossed the last three innings and gave up one run on five hits.
Oklahoma State scored in every inning but the seventh with a six-run third and five-run fourth which opened the contest up. Missouri Southern scored its lone run in the seventh off an RBI single by centerfielder Joey Ballard.
Other hitting stars for the Pokes were Jimbo McAuliff who went 2 for 2 with two stolen bases and five runs scored and Jay McCullough who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
With the win, the Cowboys move to 35-1 all-time versus the Lions and have now won 15 straight home openers. The Cowboys are 45-17-1 in season openers and 51-12 in home openers.
Oklahoma State will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 12 when they face Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 2 p.m. at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
Missouri Southern 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 -- 1
Oklahoma State 3 3 6 5 2 2 0 1 X -- 22
Fowler, Bown (2), Tompsett (4), Momper (5) and Pinkerton; M. Smith, Dreier (4), New (7) and Holliday, Haggard.
W - M. Smith 1-0. L - Fowler 0-1. Sv - None. HRs- Oklahoma State, Gasparino 2 (2), Kitsch (1), L. Matthews (1).
