Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Even Super Regional With 12-Inning Win
June 09, 2007 | Cowboy Baseball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Oklahoma State moved to within one win of the College World Series with a 3-2 triumph over Louisville in 12 innings Saturday at the NCAA Super Regional at Jim Patterson Stadium.
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 42-20 and forced a decisive third game of the Super Regional on Sunday at 3 p.m. (CST). The winner of that game will advance to next week's College World Series in Omaha, Neb. OSU has 19 CWS appearances in its history, but the Cowboys have not advanced to Omaha since 1999.
OSU won in dramatic fashion on Saturday as the Cowboys earned a victory despite managing just four hits.
But those hits were big. Two of those came in the top of the 12th inning, and Keanon Simon's RBI single in the frame scored Tyler Mach from third with what proved to be the winning run.
The Cowboys took the game's first lead in the fourth when Corey Brown smashed his team-leading 22nd home run of the season, a solo shot over the center-field wall.
With starter Justin Friend keeping the Cardinals off the scoreboard, the score remained 1-0 until the sixth.
In that inning, Friend retired the first two
OSU trailed until the ninth when, down to their final three outs, the Cowboys sent the top of the order to the plate.
And leadoff hitter Ty Wright delivered, sending a line-drive home run to left field off UL closer Trystan Magnuson to even the score at 2-2.
In the 12th, Mach reached on a one-out error by UL third baseman Chris Dominguez, and two batters later, Rebel Ridling's bloop single put Cowboys on first and third. That brought up Simon, who provided a single through the right side on an 0-2 pitch to put OSU back on top to stay.
Mercer earned the win as he worked the final four innings and struck out three while allowing just two hits. The sophomore right hander did not allow a run in improving to 3-1 on the season.
Friend did not earn a decision but tossed eight strong innings. He allowed just six hits and struck out four, while both of the runs he allowed were unearned.
OSU's 42 wins is its most ever under fourth-year head coach Frank Anderson, and the most by the Cowboys since the 2001 season.
