Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Fall To San Diego, 7-2
March 08, 2008 | Cowboy Baseball
SAN DIEGO — Oklahoma State managed just six hits against San Diego Friday at Cunningham Stadium and dropped a 7-2 decision to the Toreros in the Aztec Invitational.
With the loss, the 20th-ranked Cowboys fell to 8-2 on the season, while No. 17 USD returned to the .500 mark at 6-6.
OSU struggled offensively against San Diego All-American Brian Matusz, a southpaw who is considered one of the top pitchers at the collegiate level. In eight innings of work, Matusz allowed just one run on four hits and racked up 12 strikeouts.
The Toreros took an early lead in the bottom of the first, getting an unearned run off OSU sophomore Tyler Lyons. USD leadoff hitter Kevin Muno reached on an error by Jordy Mercer and later scored on an RBI groundout by Josh Romanski.
USD added runs in both the third and fifth innings and took a 5-0 lead in the sixth on RBI hits by Steve Kaupang and James Meador.
The Cowboys finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth. Rafael Thomas drew a one-out walk, stole second and took third on a throwing error by the catcher. Mercer then drove him in with a single to make the score 5-1.
San Diego struck for two more unearned runs in the eighth and went into the ninth with a 7-1 advantage.
OSU mounted a rally in its final at bat. Rebel Ridling led off the frame with a double, and a single by Donnie Webb put Cowboys on first and third with no outs. Luis Flores then brought home a run with a sacrifice to make the score 7-2, but USD reliever A.J. Griffin retired the next three hitters to end the game.
Webb was the only Cowboy with more than one hit as he was 2-for-4 on the day.
Lyons suffered the first loss of his OSU career, falling to 2-1 on the season. The southpaw worked six innings, striking out four and allowing five runs on eight hits.
OSU returns to action Saturday against Santa Clara at 5 p.m. (CST).
With the loss, the 20th-ranked Cowboys fell to 8-2 on the season, while No. 17 USD returned to the .500 mark at 6-6.
OSU struggled offensively against San Diego All-American Brian Matusz, a southpaw who is considered one of the top pitchers at the collegiate level. In eight innings of work, Matusz allowed just one run on four hits and racked up 12 strikeouts.
The Toreros took an early lead in the bottom of the first, getting an unearned run off OSU sophomore Tyler Lyons. USD leadoff hitter Kevin Muno reached on an error by Jordy Mercer and later scored on an RBI groundout by Josh Romanski.
USD added runs in both the third and fifth innings and took a 5-0 lead in the sixth on RBI hits by Steve Kaupang and James Meador.
The Cowboys finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth. Rafael Thomas drew a one-out walk, stole second and took third on a throwing error by the catcher. Mercer then drove him in with a single to make the score 5-1.
San Diego struck for two more unearned runs in the eighth and went into the ninth with a 7-1 advantage.
OSU mounted a rally in its final at bat. Rebel Ridling led off the frame with a double, and a single by Donnie Webb put Cowboys on first and third with no outs. Luis Flores then brought home a run with a sacrifice to make the score 7-2, but USD reliever A.J. Griffin retired the next three hitters to end the game.
Webb was the only Cowboy with more than one hit as he was 2-for-4 on the day.
Lyons suffered the first loss of his OSU career, falling to 2-1 on the season. The southpaw worked six innings, striking out four and allowing five runs on eight hits.
OSU returns to action Saturday against Santa Clara at 5 p.m. (CST).
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