Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Clinch Series Win With Doubleheader Sweep Of Kansas State
April 30, 2006 | Cowboy Baseball
Oklahoma State won a pair of one-run games in a doubleheader against Kansas State on Saturday at Tointon Stadium to clinch its third-straight Big 12 Conference series win.
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The Cowboys opened with a 3-2 victory before earning a 2-1 win in the night cap. In extending their winning streak to eight games, OSU improved to 30-13 overall and 9-8 in Big 12 play.
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In the opener, K-State took an early lead with a run in its first at bat. Derek Bunker led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and advanced to third after a bunt and wild pitch. Bunker eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Cris Tapia.
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The Cowboys tied the score in the fourth when Tyler Mach blasted a solo home run over the left-field wall. The homer was Mach's 16th of the season, which leads the Big 12 Conference, and also extended the junior third baseman's hitting streak to 13 games.
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In the bottom of the inning, the Wildcats regained the lead. After back-to-back singles by Tapia and Barrett Rice and a sacrifice bunt, Byron Wiley's sacrifice fly scored Tapia from third to give K-State a 2-1 advantage.
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Once again, the lead would not last. With two outs in OSU's half of the fifth, Jordy Mercer singled and Matt Clarkson walked. Corey Brown then delivered a two-RBI double off the center-field wall. Brown was thrown out at third base, but the Cowboys took a 3-2 lead on the play.
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Brown's run-scoring double proved to be the difference in the contest, but not before the Wildcats mounted a late-inning threat.
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In the bottom of seventh, OSU starter Matt Gardner surrendered consecutive singles to Byron Wiley and Eli Rumler to lead off the inning. But Oliver Odle came out of the bullpen to relieve
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Odle worked the final three innings to earn his second save of the season. He allowed just two hits during that span.
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The night cap would be a classic pitcher's duel between OSU's Brae Wright and K-State's Adam Cowart as both tossed complete games.
The Cowboys once again fell behind early in the second contest as Matt Marasco's RBI double gave K-State a 1-0 lead in the second.
But OSU struck for two runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. Keanon Simon led off the frame with a triple down the right-field line, and Mach followed with a run-scoring single to tie the game at 1-1. Four batters later, an infield single by Justin Colbert brought Mach home from third with the go-ahead run.
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That was all Wright needed as the senior southpaw hurled his second complete game in as many starts and third on the season. Wright, the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of Week, struck out six Wildcats and allowed only five hits to improve to 6-2 on the season.
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Cowart (5-5) suffered the loss despite striking out seven and giving up just five hits. With the two losses on Saturday, K-State dropped to 24-15-1 overall and 4-12-1 in league play.
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Scram had two of OSU's hits in the second win, and Mach extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
The Cowboys will try for the series sweep on Sunday, with the finale scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
