Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys' Season Ends With Loss To Clemson
June 01, 2009 | Cowboy Baseball
June 1, 2009
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Top-seeded Clemson scored five runs, three of them unearned, in its final two at bats to defeat Oklahoma State, 6-5, and win the NCAA Clemson Regional championship Monday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The loss marks the second-straight season OSU has lost in the NCAA Regional championship round. The Cowboys, who were the third seed at the Clemson Regional, end the season with a 34-24 record.
Kyle Parker's two-RBI single off OSU closer Randy McCurry in the bottom of the eighth provided the game-winning runs as Clemson improved to 44-20 and advanced to the Super Regionals in Tempe, Ariz.
Parker's go-ahead RBIs in the bottom of the eighth gave CU a one-run lead heading into the ninth inning before OSU put the tying run on second and the potential winning run on first with two outs. But Mark Ginther struck out to end the game and the Cowboys' season.
Tyler Lyons, who was named to the all-tournament team, was the tough-luck loser on the mound for the Cowboys to end the season with a 7-6 mark. After starting and picking up a win in the tourney opener against Alabama on Friday, Lyons was called on to start the title game on short rest. In 7.2 innings, the junior southpaw allowed six runs, just three of them earned, on eight hits and struck out seven.
OSU took the game's early lead and knocked Clemson starter Ryan Hinson out of the game in the second inning.
Kevin David collected his first hit of the Regional with a single up the middle to lead off the top of the second frame, and Tom Belza continued his red-hot hitting with an RBI double into the gap in left-center field to plate the Cowboys' first run.
The Cowboys added to their lead on an RBI single by Davis Duren, one that gave OSU a 2-0 advantage and knocked Hinson out of the game after just one inning of work. The Pokes then advanced runners to second and third with one out after a walk and a sacrifice bunt, but CU reliever Tomas Cruz retired OSU's next two hitters to get out of the jam.
OSU quickly took a 3-0 in the top of the fourth as Ginther blasted the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left field, a shot which carried down the line and barely remained fair. The homer was Ginther's fifth of the season and second of the tourney.
The Tigers finally got to Lyons in the fifth. After 4.2 scoreless innings, Lyons gave up a two-out double to Clemson Regional MVP Chris Epps. Mike Freeman followed with a triple to cut OSU's lead to 3-1 before Lyons struck out Jeff Schaus to end the inning.
OSU took advantage of a pair of Clemson throwing errors in the seventh to add to its lead with two unearned runs. Micheal Dabbs led off the inning with a single, and Tyrone Hambly followed with a sacrifice bunt. CU third baseman Matt Sanders fielded the bunt but threw the ball away, allowing Hambly to advance to second and Dabbs to reach third.
Up next, Neil Medchill sent a fly ball to short left field that Schaus dropped, resulting in a bases-loaded, no-outs situation for the Cowboys. David then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to make the score 4-0.
CU's second error in the inning also proved costly as first baseman Ben Paulsen threw the ball away trying to record a force out at second base. The errant throw allowed Hambly to score OSU's fifth run of the night.
The Tigers answered with three unearned runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Stolz reached on a throwing error by Hambly, and Epps made OSU pay with an opposite-field, two-run home run to left to cut the Cowboys' lead to 5-3.
CU added its third run of the inning on an RBI single by Schaus, who was thrown out at second after the run scored to end the inning with the Cowboys leading, 5-4.
In the decisive eighth inning, Lyons walked Paulsen to lead off the frame, but quickly recorded two outs on a strikeout and line out. But John Nestor doubled, ending Lyons' night on the mound, and McCurry came in and promptly surrendered the two-RBI single to Parker.
Hambly led off the ninth for the Cowboys and sent a ground ball into the hole at short. But CU shortstop Brad Miller got to the ball and fired to first. Hambly slid head first into the bag but was called out on the close play.
Up next, Medchill singled and advanced to second on a groundout by David. After Belza was intentionally walked, Matt Vaughn retired Ginther to end the game.
Vaughn earned the win with 3.2 innings in relief to improve to 4-1.
OSU Game Notes
- Four Cowboys were named to the NCAA Clemson Regional All-Tournament Team. Tom Belza (SS), Tyrone Hambly (3B), Micheal Dabbs (OF) and Tyler Lyons (P) earned the honor. Belza and Lyons earned all-tournament honors for the second time in their careers as both were on the NCAA Stillwater Regional All-Tournament Team in 2008.
- Belza hit .500 (7-for-14) in the Clemson Regional with four home runs and nine RBIs. He also scored five runs.
- Belza also ended the season with a 12-game hitting streak.
- OSU is now 11-10 in NCAA Tournament play under head coach Frank Anderson.
