Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ridling Lifts Cowboys To Win Over Illinois-Chicago
February 11, 2007 | Cowboy Baseball
EDINBURG, Texas - Rebel Ridling's three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled Oklahoma State to an 8-5 win over Illinois-Chicago in the Citrus Tournament Sunday at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
With OSU trailing 5-4, Ridling smashed an offering by UIC's Adam Worthington over the left-field wall to give the Cowboys the lead as they improved to 3-0 on the season.
Ridling, a junior first baseman, finished the contest 3-for-4 at the plate and tied a career high with five RBIs.
Junior Josh Neal, who made his first-career appearance for the Cowboys, earned the win on the mound. The southpaw did not allow a run in 2.2 innings of work while striking out three and allowing just one hit.
UIC (1-2) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning against OSU starter Andrew Oliver as the Cowboys fell behind for the first time this season. Leadoff hitter Chad Schroeder was hit by a pitch and later stole second. He scored on a two-out, bloop single by Larry Gempp, Jr. for a 1-0 Flames' lead.
But the Cowboys answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, rallying with two outs. Corey Brown reached on a fielder's choice and took second on a single by Matt Mangini. Dylan Brown then walked to load the bases for Ridling, who delivered a single through the left side to score a pair of runs and give OSU a 2-1 advantage.
The Flames tied the score at 2-2 in the third, and again it was Schroeder and Gempp doing the damage. Schroeder led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Three batters later, Gempp double down the right-field line to drive in a run.
UIC regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth against Cowboy reliever Tyler Blandford. David Cales led off the inning with a double and was bunted over to third. Nick Rainwater plated Cales with a single to right to make the score 3-2.
The sixth inning saw the Flames extend their lead to 5-2 as Michael Kaffel and Erik Whinery collected RBIs.
In the bottom of the inning, the Cowboys scored twice to again trim the deficit. Ridling led off the inning with a double and would score on a single by Keanon Simon. Matt Lopez would also score on the play as UIC committed three errors, but Simon would be thrown out at home as he tried to score the tying run.
OSU came up big in the top of the seventh. The Cowboys faced a bases loaded situation with just one out, but Neal came out of the bullpen and got UIC's Brett Schaefer to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the Flames off the scoreboard.
The Cowboys used another clutch double play to close out the game in the ninth. UIC's first two batters reached base in the inning, but Neal got Rainwater to fly out before Micky Pingree grounded into a game-ending double play.
Simon led OSU with four hits in the contest, while Corey Brown and Mangini each collected two hits.
OSU will return to action Friday when the Cowboys face La Salle at the FAU Beach Ball Bash in Boca Raton, Fla. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
With OSU trailing 5-4, Ridling smashed an offering by UIC's Adam Worthington over the left-field wall to give the Cowboys the lead as they improved to 3-0 on the season.
Ridling, a junior first baseman, finished the contest 3-for-4 at the plate and tied a career high with five RBIs.
Junior Josh Neal, who made his first-career appearance for the Cowboys, earned the win on the mound. The southpaw did not allow a run in 2.2 innings of work while striking out three and allowing just one hit.
UIC (1-2) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning against OSU starter Andrew Oliver as the Cowboys fell behind for the first time this season. Leadoff hitter Chad Schroeder was hit by a pitch and later stole second. He scored on a two-out, bloop single by Larry Gempp, Jr. for a 1-0 Flames' lead.
But the Cowboys answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, rallying with two outs. Corey Brown reached on a fielder's choice and took second on a single by Matt Mangini. Dylan Brown then walked to load the bases for Ridling, who delivered a single through the left side to score a pair of runs and give OSU a 2-1 advantage.
The Flames tied the score at 2-2 in the third, and again it was Schroeder and Gempp doing the damage. Schroeder led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Three batters later, Gempp double down the right-field line to drive in a run.
UIC regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth against Cowboy reliever Tyler Blandford. David Cales led off the inning with a double and was bunted over to third. Nick Rainwater plated Cales with a single to right to make the score 3-2.
The sixth inning saw the Flames extend their lead to 5-2 as Michael Kaffel and Erik Whinery collected RBIs.
In the bottom of the inning, the Cowboys scored twice to again trim the deficit. Ridling led off the inning with a double and would score on a single by Keanon Simon. Matt Lopez would also score on the play as UIC committed three errors, but Simon would be thrown out at home as he tried to score the tying run.
OSU came up big in the top of the seventh. The Cowboys faced a bases loaded situation with just one out, but Neal came out of the bullpen and got UIC's Brett Schaefer to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the Flames off the scoreboard.
The Cowboys used another clutch double play to close out the game in the ninth. UIC's first two batters reached base in the inning, but Neal got Rainwater to fly out before Micky Pingree grounded into a game-ending double play.
Simon led OSU with four hits in the contest, while Corey Brown and Mangini each collected two hits.
OSU will return to action Friday when the Cowboys face La Salle at the FAU Beach Ball Bash in Boca Raton, Fla. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
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