Cowboys Fall In Series Opener

Friday, April 8

Stillwater, Okla.

6:00:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

19-10, 0

Texas Tech

22-9, 0

Texas Tech

Oklahoma State

April 08, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

PHOTO GALLERY

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State dropped its conference home opener Friday night as No. 19 Texas Tech knocked off the 16^th-ranked Cowboys, 5-1, at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

With the loss, OSU drops to 19-10 overall and 4-3 in Big 12 play, while the Red Raiders improved to 21-9 and remained atop the league standings at 9-1.

"It was simply one of those nights where some pivotal, key moments went the wrong way from our standpoint," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday.

One of those key moments was a three-run seventh inning for the Red Raiders that ultimately led to the Cowboys' loss.

"Like a lot of Friday night games, it was very well-pitched and tight up to that point," Holliday said. "Give Texas Tech credit. They came up with clutch hits and hung a three-spot on us, and we weren't really up to the task at that point."

After OSU left the bases full in the bottom of the sixth — the Cowboys finished the contest with 11 runners left on base — the game entered the pivotal seventh knotted at 1-1. A leadoff walk to Tyler Neslony was followed by a sacrifice bunt, and Michael Davis then lined a sharp grounder that took a bad hop and deflected off OSU first baseman Dustin Williams and into right field to allow the go-ahead run to score.

The Red Raiders would rally for two more runs in the inning off OSU starter Thomas Hatch, the big blow coming on a two-out, two-RBI single by Trey Ochoa to put the visitors up, 4-1.

In the eighth, TTU added an unearned run on when Zach Davis followed an throwing error with an RBI single to push the Red Raiders' lead to four.

OSU used three first inning singles to score its only run of the game.

J.R. Davis led off with a hit that snuck past the outstretched glove of Tech's Martin Davis and into right field. After a Corey Hassel groundout moved Davis to second, Donnie Walton lined one into right, putting runners on the corners with only one out. From there, Garrett Benge battled and grounded a 2-2 pitch through the hole on the right side of the infield to give OSU the 1-0 lead.

Hatch worked seven innings and took his first loss of the season as he surrendered four runs on seven hits to fall to 2-1.

Remey Reed relieved Hatch in the eighth and gave up just one unearned run while striking out a pair over the final two frames.

Walton led the offense, going 3-for-5 at the plate. He was the lone Cowboy to record multiple hits as OSU finished with eight in the contest.

Ryan Moseley earned the win for Texas Tech, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Davis Martin and allowing only one hit while striking out four.

The two teams return to action Saturday at 3 p.m.