Cowboys Get Back In Win Column

Friday, April 15

Waco, Texas

6:30:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

20-13, 0

Baylor

17-17, 0

Oklahoma State

Baylor

April 15, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

WACO, Texas – Oklahoma State rallied for four runs in the 12^th inning to claim a 6-2 win over Baylor in Friday night's series opener at Baylor Ballpark.

The victory snapped OSU's four-game losing streak as the 27^th-ranked Cowboys improved to 20-13 overall and 5-5 in Big 12 Conference play.

OSU collected four hits in the decisive 12^th inning, including RBI doubles from Colin Simpson, Ryan Sluder and Corey Hassel, and Tyler Buffett was perfect in the bottom of the frame to pick up his fifth win of the season on the mound.

"That was a great win for our team, a really important win – I'm really proud of our kids for hanging in there through a tough stretch," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday.

After being retired in order in the ninth, 10^th and 11^th innings, OSU's offense got on track against Joe Heineman in the 12^th.

Pinch hitter Conor Costello led off the inning with a single, and a sacrifice bunt by Jon Littell along with a throwing error on the play put Cowboys on first and second with no outs.

Up next, Simpson stepped to the plate and delivered the go-ahead run with an RBI double down the right field line. Playing in just his 12^th game of the year, the double was the freshman's fifth hit and second RBI of his young career.

Simpson's hit was the first of three consecutive doubles by the Cowboys as Sluder followed and ripped a two-RBI shot down the left field line before Hassel brought home a run by delivering the ball into the left-center field gap to put the Cowboys up, 6-2.

Buffett, who entered the game in the bottom of the 11^th with two on and two out, retired the Bears in order in the 12^th to seal the win.

Friday's game was a pitcher's duel between starters Thomas Hatch and Daniel Castano throughout the first eight innings.

OSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in its first at bat on an RBI single by Donnie Walton, but BU (17-17, 4-6) tied it in the second with the first of two unearned runs off Hatch.

In the third, the Pokes would go back on top, this time on a two-out, RBI double from Garrett Benge.

OSU held the 2-1 lead until the sixth when two walks and a passed ball led to an RBI single from Darryn Sheppard that tied the score again.

The two teams remained deadlocked over the next three innings, with a big defensive play by the Cowboys sending the game into extra innings.

With BU runners on first and second, Justin Arrington delivered a single through the left side off OSU reliever Blake Battenfield. But Littell picked up the ball in shallow left field and fired a one-hop strike to the plate to nail Aaron Dodson with what would have been the winning run.

Hatch finished the contest with eight innings of work, which tied a career high, and the right-hander did not allow an earned run while striking out seven.

Battenfield came on after a leadoff single in the ninth, and worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two.

Offensively, OSU finished with 10 hits as Hassel, Walton and Dustin Williams collected two apiece.

The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The weekend schedule was altered due to the threat of rain Sunday.