Cowboys Open Weekend With 8-2 Win

Friday, March 11

Stillwater, Okla.

2:00:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

8-6

Abilene Christian

8-5

Abilene Christian

Oklahoma State

March 11, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

PHOTO GALLERY

STILLWATER, Okla. — Another strong pitching effort and a pair of home runs lifted No. 22 Oklahoma State to an 8-2 win over Abilene Christian in Friday's series opener at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

With the win, OSU improved to 8-6 on the season, including a 5-1 mark on its home field. ACU fell to 8-5.

Thomas Hatch worked a career-high eight innings and tied a career best with eight strikeouts to earn his first victory of the year. The sophomore right-hander, who missed last season with an injury, gave up two runs on eight hits and did not issue a walk to record his first win since Feb. 22, 2014.

"I felt good, my fastball command was good and Rob (Walton) and Collin (Theroux) called a good game," Hatch said. "I've got to keep emphasizing fastball command, and the slider is coming so I think I'm progressing pretty good…

"You just think of team wins, I don't even think about my wins. But it's pretty cool to get your first one – it's the first one in a while for me."

Jon Littell and Dustin Williams each homered and drove in three runs, while Corey Hassel picked up a pair of RBIs to provide Hatch plenty of run support. Garrett Benge also had a big day at the plate with a career-high three hits.

Littell got things started in the fourth, blasting a Kyle Carroll offering over the wall in left field for a three-run home run. The round tripper was the first of the sophomore's career.

Hatch retired the first nine hitters he faced and took a shutout into the sixth. But ACU threatened in that inning, loading the bases with one out after three singles.

But Hatch worked out of the jam, getting Hunter Hays to ground into an inning-ending double play.

"It's really big. We were up 3-0 right there so to keep a zero up there and get the offense back in the dugout and get their bats going was big," said Hatch of getting out of the sixth unscathed following the double play.

The Cowboys used the long ball to increase their lead in the bottom of the inning. This time it was Williams delivering an opposite-field shot to left-center field to make it 5-0. The homer marked Williams' team-leading fourth of the season and second in as many games.

OSU tacked on three more runs in the seventh, compliments of a two-RBI double by Hassel – one of his two hits in the contest – and a sacrifice fly by Williams.

The Wildcats' lone runs came in the eighth when they rallied with two outs, getting four consecutive singles to cut their deficit to 8-2.

The two teams return to action Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.