Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Force Second Game with Shockers
April 09, 2003 | Cowboy Baseball
OSU junior Lamont Matthews (3-for-5; HR; 2 RBI ) engineered the Cowboys' 14-hit attack with a solo home run to lead off the top of the eighth inning, his 26th of the season. The Cowboys added two more runs on a triple by freshman Toby Rhodes (2-for-4), the first of his career, after senior Jay McCullough (1-for-5) doubled and sophomore Trevor Leu (1-for-3) singled. Junior Carlos Gautreaux (2-for-4) knocked in Rhodes from third on an RBI single to right field.
Senior Brian Preston (1-for-4) got Wichita State (59-13) on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning as he launched a two-out, two-run home run to give WSU a 2-0 lead. Preston's homer was his 23rd of the season and scored freshman Brad Wright, who walked off OSU junior starting pitcher pitcher Frank Bludau.
Oklahoma State (49-12) answered right back in the top of the third when OSU senior Billy Gasparino (2-for-5; 4 RBI) hit a two-out, grand slam to left field to put OSU up 4-2. The home run by Gasparino was his 24th of the season. Wichita State added a run in the bottom of the third, as Shocker senior Kevin Hooper (3-for-5; 2, 2B) led off the inning with a double down left field line, and sophomore Blake Blasi (2-for-5; RBI) singled Hooper home to pull WSU within one of the Cowboys (4-3).
The Cowboys added three more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Matthews', two-out, two RBI single to pull away for a 7-3 lead. With two outs, Oklahoma State laced four consecutive singles by Carlos Gautreaux, and seniors Kevin Lucas (2-for-5) and Gasparino, who had a RBI on his single.
Wichita State answered back in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run double by junior Pat Magness, pulling the Shockers within two (7-5). Hooper led off with a double and Blasi reached base on a sun-aided high fly to right field, which landed in the middle of three Cowboys, sending Hooper to third and setting the stage for Magness' at-bat. WSU tied the game up in the next frame (7-7) when sophomore Koyie Hill (2-for-5; 3 RBI) belted a two-out, bases loaded, 2 RBI single and was thrown out trying to stretch the play to a double. Hill added a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth with one out and nobody on for the final 11-8 score.
Junior Rusty Rushing picked up the win for the Cowboys as he pitched two 2/3 innings, giving up one run (earned) and striking out two to improve his season record to 2-1. Junior Greg Bauer (2-2) took the loss for WSU, as he worked four innings, giving up five runs (all earned) and striking out two.
Wichita State and OSU will play once more in the second and deciding championship game of the Wichita Regionals tonight at 6 p.m.
