Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Complete Sweep Of Western Illinois With Shutout
February 26, 2006 | Cowboy Baseball
Southpaw Charles Benoit picked up the first win of his OSU career with a dominating performance on the mound. The sophomore, who is coming off arm surgery that sidelined him most of last season at Grayson County Community College, threw six scoreless innings while striking out eight and allowing just three hits.
Benoit got plenty of run support from his teammates as the Cowboys scored in each of the first five innings.
OSU took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Corey Brown led off with a double and scored on an RBI triple by Keanon Simon. The score reached 2-0 when Simon scored on a balk by WIU's Rob Johnson.
In the second inning, it was OSU sophomore first baseman Rebel Ridling who provided the big blow as he blasted a two-run home run to left field for a 4-0 advantage for the Cowboys. The round tripper was Ridling's first as a Cowboy.
The Cowboys again hung a crooked number on the scoreboard via the long ball in the third inning, with Justin Colbert hitting his first career grand slam. Colbert, a senior infielder, led OSU's offensive attack on Sunday with a 3-for-5, four-RBI performance.
The Leathernecks (2-6) could manage little offensively as they collected just three hits and struck out 12 times against the OSU pitching trio of Benoit, Trent Lare and Matt Gardner. That group combined for the Cowboys' first shutout since March 11 of last season.
OSU, which improved to 5-1 with Sunday's win, returns to action Friday when it hosts Cal State-Northridge. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Reynolds Stadium.
