Oklahoma State University Athletics
Friday, February 27
Greenville, N.C.
1:00 PM
Oklahoma State University
7
vs
6
College of Charleston
Cowboys Open Tourney With 7-6 Win
February 27, 2009 | Cowboy Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C. — Oklahoma State got back in the win column Friday, opening play at the Keith LeClair Classic with a 7-6 triumph over the College of Charleston.
With the win, the 11th-ranked Cowboys improved to 5-1, while CofC dropped to 3-2.
Tyler Blandford earned the win on the mound, tossing 5.2 innings and striking out eight, one shy of his career high. Freshman Randy McCurry picked up his second save of the year by working a scoreless ninth inning.
Leading the offensive attack for OSU was Tyrone Hambly, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Davis Duren also had a pair of hits and scored twice, while Rafael Thomas collected two RBIs.
The Cowboys took an early lead in their first at bat on Hambly's first home run of the season, a three-run blast over the wall in center field off CofC starter Jesse Simpson (1-1).
OSU continued to add to its lead in the second inning. Thomas drove in his first run of the season with his first hit of the season, a single, to give the Cowboys a 4-0 advantage. Tom Belza followed with an RBI single of his own for the Pokes' fifth run.
In the fifth, Doug Kroll continued his hot hitting as he homered over the wall in center field. Kroll's solo shot was his team-leading fifth home run of the season and extended his hitting streak to six games. He has now homered in each of OSU's last three games.
Blandford did not allow a hit through the first four innings and racked up seven strikeouts in the game's first three frames.
The Cowboys' junior right hander took a shutout into the sixth inning, but three-straight hits by CofC plated the Cougars' first run. Joash Brodin then delivered a three-run home run to right field to make the score 6-4.
The Cougars added their fifth run in the inning on a two-out single by Austin Morgan that drove Blandford from the game. Thomas Keeling came out of the bullpen and struck out Cole Rakar to end the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, OSU answered to increase its lead. Duren led off with an infield single and took second on a throwing error. After a sacrifice bunt by Eric Walker, Thomas collected his second RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly to center to give the Cowboys a 7-5 lead.
OSU held that two-run advantage until the ninth. After a leadoff double by Morgan, McCurry came out of the bullpen to relieve Keeling, who struck out a career-high five in 2.1 innings of work.
After the freshman righty retired the first batter he faced on a groundout, Joey Bergman singled up the middle to bring home a run and make the score 7-6. But McCurry got Sizemore to ground into a game-ending double play to secure the win for the Cowboys.
OSU will battle tourney host East Carolina later today at approximately 3 p.m. (CST).
With the win, the 11th-ranked Cowboys improved to 5-1, while CofC dropped to 3-2.
Tyler Blandford earned the win on the mound, tossing 5.2 innings and striking out eight, one shy of his career high. Freshman Randy McCurry picked up his second save of the year by working a scoreless ninth inning.
Leading the offensive attack for OSU was Tyrone Hambly, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Davis Duren also had a pair of hits and scored twice, while Rafael Thomas collected two RBIs.
The Cowboys took an early lead in their first at bat on Hambly's first home run of the season, a three-run blast over the wall in center field off CofC starter Jesse Simpson (1-1).
OSU continued to add to its lead in the second inning. Thomas drove in his first run of the season with his first hit of the season, a single, to give the Cowboys a 4-0 advantage. Tom Belza followed with an RBI single of his own for the Pokes' fifth run.
In the fifth, Doug Kroll continued his hot hitting as he homered over the wall in center field. Kroll's solo shot was his team-leading fifth home run of the season and extended his hitting streak to six games. He has now homered in each of OSU's last three games.
Blandford did not allow a hit through the first four innings and racked up seven strikeouts in the game's first three frames.
The Cowboys' junior right hander took a shutout into the sixth inning, but three-straight hits by CofC plated the Cougars' first run. Joash Brodin then delivered a three-run home run to right field to make the score 6-4.
The Cougars added their fifth run in the inning on a two-out single by Austin Morgan that drove Blandford from the game. Thomas Keeling came out of the bullpen and struck out Cole Rakar to end the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, OSU answered to increase its lead. Duren led off with an infield single and took second on a throwing error. After a sacrifice bunt by Eric Walker, Thomas collected his second RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly to center to give the Cowboys a 7-5 lead.
OSU held that two-run advantage until the ninth. After a leadoff double by Morgan, McCurry came out of the bullpen to relieve Keeling, who struck out a career-high five in 2.1 innings of work.
After the freshman righty retired the first batter he faced on a groundout, Joey Bergman singled up the middle to bring home a run and make the score 7-6. But McCurry got Sizemore to ground into a game-ending double play to secure the win for the Cowboys.
OSU will battle tourney host East Carolina later today at approximately 3 p.m. (CST).
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