Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys to Play Baylor in Super Regional
April 09, 2003 | Cowboy Baseball
Designated hitter Trevor Leu (1-for-4) drove in senior third baseman Josh Holliday for the winning run, blooping a single to centerfield off of WSU closer Marc Bluma (2-3), who got the loss. Rusty Rushing (3-1) picked up the win for the Cowboys, who moved to 44-18 on the season.
Oklahoma State got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Carlos Gautreaux led off with a single to right field before OSU senior Kevin Lucas (1-for-4; 2 RBI) hit a two-run shot to left, his seventh of the year, for a quick 2-0 lead. Junior Lamont Matthews, named the Wichita Regional "Most Outstanding Player," added a two-out solo home run, number 27 of the season, to complete OSU's three-run first. Matthews finished the game going 3-for-5 at the plate.
Wichita State (59-13) put up four runs in the top of the third inning to take its first lead (4-3). After senior Kevin Hooper (3-for-5) struck out, junior Blake Blasi walked and sophomore Koyie Hill (2-for-5) laced a one-out single to left-center, setting the stage for junior Pat Magness, who belted a three-run homer to left field. Magness went 1-for-3 offensively for WSU with a team high 3 RBIs. Senior Brian Preston (1-for-5) stepped up next and picked up his only hit of the game, advancing to second on a throwing error by OSU senior second baseman Kevin Lucas. Senior Tim Hayes (3-for-5; 2 RBI) gave WSU the lead with an RBI single to right field, scoring Preston from second.
OSU regained the lead in the bottom of the third as the Cowboys tallied three runs. Senior Billy Gasparino (2-for-5) led off with a single and advanced to second when Holliday (2-for-4) was hit by a pitch from WSU starter Jason Krafft. Matthews reached second on a error by Shocker centerfielder Justin McCarty, with Gasparino scoring the tying run. Oklahoma State regained the lead on an RBI single by first baseman Jay McCullough and a sac fly by Leu.
The Shockers crept to within a run at 6-5, as Hill belted an RBI double, scoring Hooper, who had reached base on a one-out single and stole second, and tied it up at 7-7 when Hayes connected on a solo home run off OSU's Jeremy Krimser.
Wichita State threatened in the eighth, as the Shockers loaded the bases. After Hooper reached on an infield single and Blasi walked, Rushing intentionally walked Magness to get to Schreiber. The strategy worked as Rushing fanned Schreiber, who struck out for the third time in the game.
With the win, OSU advanced to the best-of-three series in Super Regional action next weekend, June 4-6. The Cowboys will meet the Waco Regional Champion Baylor Bears, a 22-6 winner over Minnesota in the championship game. Super Regional sites will be determined on Monday, May 31.
