Cowboys Clinch Series With Seventh-Straight Win

Saturday, March 19

Stillwater, Okla.

2:00:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

13-6

Michigan

11-5

Michigan

Oklahoma State

March 19, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State clinched a series win over 18^th-ranked Michigan Saturday with a 5-4 win at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium as the 22^nd-ranked Cowboys extended their season-long winning streak to seven games.

With the win, which was OSU's fourth over a ranked opponent this season, the Cowboys improved to 13-6 overall, while Michigan fell to 11-5.

Trey Cobb had a career day on the mound for the Cowboys to earn his third-straight win. The junior right-hander allowed just one earned run and racked up a career-high 13 strikeouts in six innings of work to improve to 3-3 on the year.

Cobb's 13 strikeouts were the most by an OSU pitcher since 2012 when All-American Andrew Heaney reached that total twice; Chase Stevens also had 13 strikeouts in a game for the Cowboys that season.

"I felt really good today. Collin (Theroux) called an awesome game back there, and there was no fear of throwing anything because I knew he was going to be there for it," said Cobb, who struck out the side in the second, fourth and fifth innings. "We came in it with a really good game plan, and it felt good to execute it for once. It (13 strikeouts) feels really good — I think it almost doubles my career high."

OSU gave Cobb an early lead as it plated a run in the first inning despite not collecting a hit against UM starter Brett Adcock. J.R. Davis drew a leadoff walk, one of 11 free passes issued to the Cowboys, advanced to third on a balk and a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.

The Wolverines tied the score in the third when Ako Thomas reached on catcher's interference and later scored on a two-out RBI single by Harrison Wenson.

But the Cowboys answered in the bottom of the inning. Andrew Rosa and Donnie Walton drew back-to-back walks to open the home half of the third, and following a pair of strikeouts, Jon Littell collected another walk to load the bases. Up next, Garrett Benge sent a ball into the left-centerfield gap that UM center fielder Cody Bruder got a glove on but was unable to catch as the triple gave OSU a 4-1 advantage.

Benge's hit was one of only two for OSU on the day, but the Cowboys continued to showcase an ability to manufacture runs.

"We're taking advantage of the free passes that they give us, we've got timely hitting going for us right now and we're bunting guys over and it's working for us," Cobb said. "The hitters are confident right now. There's two hits, but there's a lot of squared up balls."

Both teams scored runs in the fourth, with Drew Lugbauer recording an inside-the-park home run on a low line drive that got past a diving Garrett McCain in center field and rolled to the wall to make it 4-2.

Again the Cowboys answered in the bottom of the inning, getting the run back when Walton doubled to left field to score Rosa and make it 5-2.

OSU maintained the three-run lead until the eighth when the visitors rallied for two runs off Tyler Buffett. A pair of walks got the Cowboy reliever in trouble, and UM pinch hitter Hector Gutierrez delivered a two-RBI single to pull the Wolverines to within one.

With runners on first and second and one out, Michigan attempted a double steal, but Theroux gunned down Jonathan Engelmann at third. Buffett then got out of the inning on groundout.

The Wolverines also put the tying run on base in the ninth after Buffett issued a two-out walk to Carmen Benedetti, but Buffett got Wenson to fly out to end the game and record his first-career save.

OSU looks to continue its streak in Sunday's series finale, which is scheduled for noon.