Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Wichita State
Cowboys Knock Off Wichita State, 4-1
April 22, 2009 | Cowboy Baseball
WICHITA, Kan. — Four Oklahoma State pitchers held Wichita State to just one run on four hits Tuesday night as the 25th-ranked Cowboys earned a 4-1 win at Eck Stadium.
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 26-15 and handed
Andrew Oliver picked up the win with a pre-determined, two-inning start. The junior southpaw did not allow a hit or a run over two innings while striking out three to improve to 5-4 on the season.
OSU's bullpen was equally strong as Thomas Keeling, Jeff Breedlove and Randy McCurry combined to stifle WSU over the final seven innings. Breedlove worked 3.2 scoreless innings, and McCurry struck out the side in the ninth for his team-leading eighth save.
The Cowboys struck first with an unearned run in the top of the third. Doug Kroll reached on an error to open the inning, and Tom Belza bunted for a single. Following a sacrifice bunt by Davis Duren, OSU plated its first run on an RBI groundout by Micheal Dabbs to make the score 1-0.
The Cowboys added to their lead in the fourth. A leadoff single off the bat of Tyrone Hambly and a walk to Neil Medchill gave OSU runners at first and second before a sacrifice bunt by Mark Ginther. With two outs, WSU pitcher Brian Flynn balked, allowing Hambly to come home with OSU's second run.
WSU cut into the Cowboys' lead in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff walk to Tyler Grimes, Clinton McKeever doubled into the right-center field gap, and Grimes came all the way around to score.
The Shockers threatened more damage as an error by first baseman Dean Green put WSU runners of first and third with no outs. But Keeling pitched out of trouble, getting Mitch Caster to pop up before striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
OSU escaped another potential rally by the home team in the fifth. The Shockers put runners on first and second with one out, but Breedlove came out of the Cowboy bullpen and recorded a pop out and groundout to escape any damage.
The Cowboys got back in the scoring column in the sixth as Ginther continued his hot hitting.
Kevin David led off the frame with a double, and after a strikeout, Medchill was hit by a pitch. Ginther then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-RBI triple into the right-center field gap to give the Cowboys a 4-1 advantage. The hit also extended Ginther's career-long hitting streak to seven games.
OSU's defense came up big in the eighth. With the Cowboys still leading by three, WSU's Ryan Jones singled to lead off the frame, a hit which marked just the second of the game for the Shockers. Grimes then lined a shot that appeared headed safely for left field, but Cowboy third baseman Tyrone Hambly leapt up and snagged the ball and then threw to first to complete the double play.
Hambly's play proved even more crucial when the next two Shocker hitters singled before Breedlove recorded an inning-ending strikeout.
OSU returns to action Wednesday when the Cowboys host
