Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Oral Roberts
Cowboys Lose Midweek Tilt At Oral Roberts
April 22, 2014 | Cowboy Baseball
April 22, 2014
TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma State had its three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night as Oral Roberts knocked off the ninth-ranked Cowboys, 15-8, in front of a sold out crowd of 2,418 fans at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
The Cowboys committed a season-high five errors that led to five unearned runs in the loss as coach Josh Holliday's ballclub fell to 29-12 on the season.
Six different OSU pitchers combined to surrender 14 hits and 15 runs, marking the second-highest run total allowed by the Cowboys this season. Alex Hackerott suffered the loss in relief to fall to 1-1.
“Give ORU credit – they took a couple of our best punches to run right back into that thing,” Holliday said. “They counter-punched countless times in the middle innings. We just didn't play good enough baseball, and ORU did. When you make mistakes collectively as a team, give people extra chances and free bases, it can get ugly – and it did.
“The good thing is none of them carry over. It's one loss. It's disappointing because we've been playing such good fundamental baseball, and you never want to let one get away. But the bottom line is (ORU) beat us, credit to them, and we'll get rested up and prepared for a great challenge this weekend.”
OSU took the game's initial lead on an RBI single by Gage Green in the top of the first, but the Golden Eagles (22-18) answered with the tying run in the bottom of the inning.
Things got ugly in the second inning as three hits and three OSU errors led to five runs for the home team, which would be the first of two five-run frames for ORU on the night.
As they are wont to do, the Cowboys rallied and eventually regained the lead. OSU plated four runs on five hits in the fourth inning, getting RBI singles from Dustin Williams and pinch hitter Conor Costello and a two-RBI hit off the bat of Saulyer Saxon, to make it 6-5.
OSU went back on top in its next at bat. Zach Fish led off the fifth inning with his seventh home run of the season, a mammoth shot over the left field wall that tied the score, and Hunter Hagler put the Cowboys on top, 8-6, with a two-RBI single.
However, the bottom of the fifth proved disastrous for the Cowboys. After working 1 2/3 scoreless innings, Hackerott issued five runs on four hits as yet another key error fueled a frame that saw ORU take an 11-8 advantage.
“When you battle back and get to 8-6, it's important to get a zero following that, and we were unable to do so,” Holliday said. “They got five (runs) and took the momentum right back.”
OSU failed to score over the final four innings, while the Golden Eagles added four more runs in the seventh inning to cruise to the win.
The middle of the ORU order – Alex Trevino, Tyler Boss and Matt Brandy – combined for six hits and seven RBIs in the win.
OSU returns to Big 12 Conference action Friday when the first-place Cowboys open a three-game series with Texas in Austin.
