Oklahoma State University Athletics
Saturday, April 18
Stillwater, Okla.
1:00 PM
Oklahoma State University
4
vs
3
Baylor
Cowboys Get Back In Big 12 Win Column
April 18, 2009 | Cowboy Baseball
STILLWATER, Okla. — Mark Ginther's solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the game-winning run as Oklahoma State topped No. 7 Baylor, 4-3, Saturday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
On a day when OSU honored its 1959 national championship team before the game, the 28th-ranked Cowboys picked up a key win to snap a five-game losing streak in Big 12 Conference play and improve to 5-9 in the league and 25-15 overall.
Tyler Lyons picked up his first league win of the season with a seven-inning effort, while Randy McCurry worked the final two innings for his team-leading seventh save.
OSU jumped out to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first frame. Micheal Dabbs led off with a single, and following a double by Tyrone Hambly, the Cowboys plated their first run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Neil Medchill.
The Cowboys' lead would only last until the third. Lyons issued a pair of walks, and with two outs, Baylor pitcher/designated hitter Aaron Miller delivered his second home run of the series, a three-run shot to right field to put the Bears up 3-1.
OSU got a big hit of its own in the fourth to tie the score. Medchill was hit with a pitch to open the inning, and after Ginther flied out, Dean Green doubled to put Cowboys on second and third with one out.
Up next, Tom Belza delivered a clutch single through the right side that plated both runners and knotted the score at 3-3.
The score remained tied until the sixth when Ginther provided the game's final run with a blast over the wall in left field off Miller (3-1). The home run was the freshman's second of the season and extended his career-long hitting streak to six games.
In the eighth, Lyons issued a leadoff walk to Dustin Dickerson, ending his day on the mound. McCurry came out of the bullpen and recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to end the Bears' rally.
BU (25-12, 10-7) made things interesting in the ninth. Ben Booker led off the inning with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt by Landis Ware, McCurry got pinch hitter Brooks Kimmey to fly out for the second out of the inning. Booker would advance to third on the play.
Down to their final out and with the tying run on third base, the Bears sent pinch hitter Joey Hainsfurther to the plate. After falling behind 0-2, Hainsfurther battled back to draw a walk. But McCurry would retire Brooks Pinckard on a groundout to shortstop to end the threat and secure the win for the Cowboys.
Lyons improved to 5-3 on the season as the junior southpaw allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out five.
McCurry allowed just one hit in two scoreless innings and is now just three saves shy of tying OSU's single-season record for saves.
The Cowboys will try for their second conference-series win of the season in Sunday's finale, which is scheduled for 1 p.m.
On a day when OSU honored its 1959 national championship team before the game, the 28th-ranked Cowboys picked up a key win to snap a five-game losing streak in Big 12 Conference play and improve to 5-9 in the league and 25-15 overall.
Tyler Lyons picked up his first league win of the season with a seven-inning effort, while Randy McCurry worked the final two innings for his team-leading seventh save.
OSU jumped out to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first frame. Micheal Dabbs led off with a single, and following a double by Tyrone Hambly, the Cowboys plated their first run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Neil Medchill.
The Cowboys' lead would only last until the third. Lyons issued a pair of walks, and with two outs, Baylor pitcher/designated hitter Aaron Miller delivered his second home run of the series, a three-run shot to right field to put the Bears up 3-1.
OSU got a big hit of its own in the fourth to tie the score. Medchill was hit with a pitch to open the inning, and after Ginther flied out, Dean Green doubled to put Cowboys on second and third with one out.
Up next, Tom Belza delivered a clutch single through the right side that plated both runners and knotted the score at 3-3.
The score remained tied until the sixth when Ginther provided the game's final run with a blast over the wall in left field off Miller (3-1). The home run was the freshman's second of the season and extended his career-long hitting streak to six games.
In the eighth, Lyons issued a leadoff walk to Dustin Dickerson, ending his day on the mound. McCurry came out of the bullpen and recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to end the Bears' rally.
BU (25-12, 10-7) made things interesting in the ninth. Ben Booker led off the inning with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt by Landis Ware, McCurry got pinch hitter Brooks Kimmey to fly out for the second out of the inning. Booker would advance to third on the play.
Down to their final out and with the tying run on third base, the Bears sent pinch hitter Joey Hainsfurther to the plate. After falling behind 0-2, Hainsfurther battled back to draw a walk. But McCurry would retire Brooks Pinckard on a groundout to shortstop to end the threat and secure the win for the Cowboys.
Lyons improved to 5-3 on the season as the junior southpaw allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out five.
McCurry allowed just one hit in two scoreless innings and is now just three saves shy of tying OSU's single-season record for saves.
The Cowboys will try for their second conference-series win of the season in Sunday's finale, which is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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