Cowboys Split Doubleheader With Western Illinois

Wednesday, March 18

Stillwater, Okla.

3:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

Western Illinois

March 19, 2009 | Cowboy Baseball

STILLWATER, Okla. Â— Oklahoma State split a doubleheader against Western Illinois Wednesday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium as the 11th-ranked Cowboys opened with a dominating 30-3 win before dropping the nightcap by a 7-4 margin.

OSU (14-5) had a season-best day at the plate in the opener, collecting 27 hits, including five home runs, to help freshman Uriah Fisher earn his first-career win on the mound.

The Cowboys took command of the game early as they scored seven runs in the first two innings. In the first, Kevin David got the scoring started with an RBI single, and a two-RBI base hit by Davis Duren made the score 3-0.

In the second, Mark Ginther blasted the first home run of his career with a two-run shot to center field. Four batters later, Neil Medchill delivered his team-leading eighth round tripper of the year, also a two-run blast, to give the Cowboys a 7-0 advantage.

WIU (2-8) scored all its runs in the third, rallying for three runs on four hits.

But the Cowboys scored in each of their final five at bats, including racking up six runs in both the fourth and seventh innings, to run away with the win.

Every OSU starter collected at least one RBI in the opener, with David's seven leading the way. The seven-RBI effort was the most by a Cowboy since Rebel Ridling had seven against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on April 18, 2007.

David also tied an OSU record by scoring six runs in the game and finished the contest 4-for-6 at the plate.

Medchill and Duren each finished with five RBIs, while Ginther was 3-for-4 and finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

Fisher was solid on the mound as the right hander worked seven innings and allowed just three runs on nine hits. He struck out three and walked two.

OSU jumped out to quick 2-0 lead in the second contest as David drove in the Cowboys' first run with a single and later scored on an error.

The Leathernecks tied the score in the third, plating a pair of unearned runs off OSU starter Anthony Trevino, who was making his first-ever appearance for the Cowboys.

WIU added to its lead in the fourth. After walks to Cole Waddell and Drew Laidig, Andrew Hagins delivered a three-run home run over the right field wall to put the Leathernecks up 5-2.

The Cowboys pulled to within 5-3 in the sixth, but the visitors pushed their lead to four with two more runs in the seventh.

Trailing 7-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, OSU mounted a rally. Doug Kroll led off the inning with a double, and after he advanced to third on a wild pitch, Tyrone Hambly brought him home on a bunt single.

Down by three, the Cowboys loaded the bases with two outs against WIU closer Eric Eden, but Medchill grounded out to end the game.

WIU southpaw John Sneegas earned the win as he tossed eight innings and allowed just four runs, three of them earned, on seven hits. Eden earned his first save of the season with his ninth inning effort.

OSU opens Big 12 Conference play Friday against Nebraska in Lincoln. The Cowboys will battle the Cornhuskers Friday and Saturday at 2:05 p.m. before Sunday's 1:05 p.m. finale.