Cowboys Walk-Off Winners Against DBU

Tuesday, May 10

Stillwater, Okla.

6:00:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

31-15

Dallas Baptist

32-15

Dallas Baptist

Oklahoma State

Corey Hassel

May 10, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

PHOTO GALLERY

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State ran its winning streak to six games Tuesday night after the 12^th-ranked Cowboys knocked off Dallas Baptist, 8-7, in 11 innings, with on a walk-off single by Corey Hassel setting off a celebration at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

The Cowboys improved to 31-15 behind their first walk-off win of the season, while DBU falls to 32-15. OSU's victory gives it a series sweep of the Patriots as the Pokes took the first matchup in Dallas, 7-6, on March 10.

"That was a galvanizing experience for our team," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. "That's a great win for our team, and we had a nice crowd. It was a ballgame of two teams with great wills to win.

"We took a couple of jabs and hooks, but our kids responded to them and hung in there."

Garrett McCain was the Cowboys' first baserunner in the bottom of the 11th, drawing a four-pitch walk with one out. After Collin Theroux flew out to center and a wild pitch by DBU's Jimmy Fouse moved McCain to second, J.R. Davis was intentionally walked to put two OSU runners on.

A double steal put Davis and McCain on second and third, and after going 0-for-5 in his first five at-bats, Hassel got his first hit of the game as he drove a 2-2 pitch back up the middle and into center field, scoring McCain and sealing the comeback win.

"I just tried to battle and give myself a chance," Hassel said. "I came up two innings earlier and failed to get a run across to end the game, but I was just gonna battle and give our team a chance to win.

"I took (the intentional walk to Davis) as disrespect. I know that's not how they meant it — they're doing what they can to win and they thought I was a better matchup for their pitcher. I respect that decision by them and try to not let it affect me at all and just go up there with a good approach."

In order to even have that chance to win in extra innings, the Cowboys had to come back from two separate deficits. The first of those deficits came early in the contest as DBU scored two runs off OSU starter Garrett Williams without recording a hit in the first inning.

In the home half of the second though, the Cowboys rallied to take their first lead of the game.

Garrett Benge drew a walk to open the frame, which was followed by Colin Simpson singling through the right side, moving Benge to third. Two batters later, Dustin Williams drew a walk to load the bases.

After Jon Littell recorded an infield fly for the second out of the inning, Collin Theroux launched a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall, his fifth home run of the season and first grand slam as a Cowboy, to put his team on top, 4-2.

In the top of the fourth, DBU's Darick Hall got his team's first hit off of Williams as he led off the inning with a double to left center. Trooper Reynolds followed up the leadoff double by sending the first pitch he saw over the wall in center field, knotting the game at 4-4.

Carson Teel came on to pitch in relief of Williams in the fifth. The left-hander struck out the first batter he faced but then surrendered an infield single to DBU's Daniel Sweet. The Patriot would then advance to second on a wild pitch by Teel before he scored on a double off the bat of David Martinelli.

Teel settled in to get the final two outs of the frame, and Conor Costello came in for the freshman in the sixth inning.

Costello, making just his second appearance on the mound this season, gave up two runs in his two innings of work as DBU took a 7-4 lead.

Trailing 7-4 in the home half of the seventh, Colin Simpson looked to spark a comeback as he led off with a single into right field for the Cowboys. Ryan Sluder brought Simpson home quickly as he blasted the first pitch he saw out to the wall in left center for a triple.

Andrew Rosa, pinch hitting for Dustin Williams, promptly scored Sluder from third as he singled an 0-1 pitch into center field to cut the DBU lead to 7-6.

In OSU's final at bat, Sluder once again came up big as he led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to right center. After Rosa flew out to center, Littell tripled down the right field line to score Sluder and tie the game at 7-7.

McCain came on to pinch run for Littell, but the Cowboys couldn't bring him home as Theroux struck out swinging and, after Davis was intentionally walked, Hassel flew out to center field for the third out.

Donnie Walton opened the home half of the tenth with a leadoff walk as the Cowboys threatened once again, but after reaching second on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Chappell and then stealing third, Walton was stranded 90 feet from home after Sluder was barely beaten by a throw to first, ending the inning.

After entering to open the ninth inning, Tyler Buffett pitched three scoreless frames, retiring nine-straight batters and striking out a pair of Patriots to improve to 6-1 this season.

"That's a big win against a really good team," Holliday said. "And it's at the time of the year where the more quality teams you can play, the better you are as you seek to build your resumé. I've very proud of the team right now."

The Cowboys will resume Big 12 Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Bedlam-rival Oklahoma. Friday's matchup will be played in Oklahoma City with the Saturday and Sunday contests being held in Tulsa.