Cowboy Baseball 2017: The Pitching Staff

February 13, 2017 | Cowboy Baseball

Oklahoma State opens the 2017 season Friday, and expectations are again high for the Cowboys under fifth-year head coach Josh Holliday.

OSU is ranked as high as No. 11 nationally in the preseason polls, and Big 12 Conference coaches picked the Cowboys to finish second in the league standings.

Holliday's ballclub is coming off a memorable 2016 season in which it made the 20^th College World Series appearance in program history and first since 1999. The Cowboys ended the season with a 43-22 record and finished second in the league standings with a 16-8 mark. OSU's NCAA Tournament appearance was its fourth straight under Holliday, and the Pokes have finished either first or second in the conference each of his four seasons at the helm.

With the season almost upon us, we're taking a look at the Cowboys heading into 2017 with a breakdown of the roster by position, and we conclude that today with a look at the pitching staff, led by seniors Tyler Buffett and Trey Cobb and sophomore Jensen Elliott.

Under the direction of pitching coach Rob Walton, OSU led the Big 12 with 574 strikeouts a year ago and turned in a 3.21 ERA. The Cowboys have also produced three-straight All-Americans on the mound in Brendan McCurry, Michael Freeman and Thomas Hatch, while Freeman (2015) and Hatch (2016) gave OSU back-to-back Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honorees.

PITCHERS
Carson Teel, 6-0, 170, LHP
• Sophomore southpaw looking to build on solid 2016
• In the mix for a spot in starting rotation after making 17 relief appearances a year ago
• Was 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings as a redshirt freshman

Trey Cobb, 6-1, 199, RHP
• Senior veteran who has excelled as a starter and reliever over the last three seasons
• 73 career appearances ranks fifth on OSU's all-time list
• Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades in 2015 and 2016
• Was 4-7 with six saves and a 3.09 ERA in 24 outings last season
• Four of his saves came in the NCAA Tournament, where he pitched in six games and had a 0.68 ERA
• Became 14^th pitcher in OSU history to record 100 strikeouts in a season
• Drafted in 12^th round of 2016 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago Cubs

Luke Matheny, 6-2, 199, RHP
• Redshirt freshman right-hander
• Went 6-3 with 1.27 ERA and tossed five complete games as a prep senior
• Son of St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny

Matt Wilson, 6-5, 209, LHP
• Junior southpaw
• Has worked three innings in three career appearances, all in relief

Ben Leeper, 5-11, 193, RHP
• Redshirt freshman right-hander
• Made two appearances, both starts, before injury ended season
• Recorded eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings

Jensen Elliott, 6-6, 206, RHP
• Sophomore right-hander who returns to Cowboys' weekend rotation
• Named a 2016 Freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America
• Went 9-3 in 17 starts and recorded a 3.50 ERA
• Named honorable mention All-Big 12 and was on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team
• Led OSU with five wins in Big 12 play, where he was 5-1 in eight starts

Max Simpson, 6-3, 201, RHP
• Redshirt sophomore, submarining right-hander
• Worked two innings in relief over three games in 2016 before injury ended his season
• JUCO transfer from Hutchinson CC who was 7-2 with a save and 2.37 ERA in 2015
• Also had 85 strikeouts in 60.2 innings

Tyler Buffett, 6-2, 197, RHP
• Senior right-hander who looks to anchor Cowboys' starting rotation
• 2016 Preseason All-American
• 70 career appearances, 18 as a starter
• Career 14-7 record with nine saves and a 3.05 ERA
• An All-Big 12 First Team performer in 2016 after going 9-3 with nine saves and a 2.81 ERA
• Drafted in seventh round of 2016 MLB Draft

Jake Cowan, 6-1, 201, RHP
• Junior right-hander looking for increased role after making seven relief appearances in 2016
• Was 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings in first season with Cowboys
• JUCO transfer who was 5-0 with eight saves and a 1.89 ERA in 23 appearances at Cowley County CC in 2015

Blake Battenfield, 6-4, 210, RHP
• Junior right-hander with 57 career appearances
• Is 5-2 with two saves and a 2.58 ERA in his career
• Went 1-1 with a pair of saves and a 3.68 ERA in 2016
• Made 27 relief appearances as a freshman and was 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA

Joe Lienhard, 6-4, 239, RHP
• Sophomore right-hander primed for an increased role this season
• Made 15 appearances, including two starts, as a freshman and was 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA and had 18 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings
• Dad, Steve, was a four-year letterwinner for the Cowboys from 1984-87 and played six seasons in the minor leagues

Parker Scott, 6-1, 166, LHP
• Freshman southpaw from Texas pushing for a spot in starting rotation
• Named the 2016 Dallas Morning News Pitcher of the Year after striking out 111 in 68 1/3 innings and turning in a 0.72 ERA as a senior at Flower Mound HS
• Was also the Texas 6-6A Pitcher of the Year in 2016

Reid Morgan, 6-1, 176, RHP
• Freshman right-hander from Richmond, Texas
• Missed senior season following Tommy John surgery
• Went 7-1 with a 1.27 ERA as a prep junior

Brady Basso, 6-2, 205, LHP
• Freshman southpaw from Pearland, Texas
• Was the District 22-6A MVP as a senior at Pearland HS
• Went 7-1 with a 0.48 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 57 innings

Trey Riley, 6-2, 195, RHP
• Hard-throwing freshman right-hander
• Named to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Third Team following senior season at Edwardsville (Ill.) HS
• Dad, P.J., was a star outfielder at SIU-Edwardsville who was drafted in the 15^th round of the 1989 MLB Draft by Houston

Chris Burdine, 5-11, 191, RHP
• Freshman right-hander from Coppell, Texas
• Went 3-2 with 10 saves and a 0.96 ERA as a senior at Coppell HS
• Also had 64 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings

C.J. Varela, 5-10, 162, RHP
• Freshman right-hander from Katy, Texas
• Posted a career record of 11-3 at Seven Lakes HS
• Went 7-0 with a 1.41 ERA as a senior and earned first-team All-District 19-6A honors

Cole Hearrean, 6-0, 190, LHP
• JUCO transfer from Weatherford JC
• Southpaw was 7-3 as a sophomore in 2016 with 88 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings
• Started 13 games and went 5-2 as a freshman

Jonathan Heasley, 6-3, 216, RHP
• Freshman right-hander from Plano, Texas
• Went 29-3 with a 1.47 ERA and 310 strikeouts during his prep career at Prestonwood Christian
• Helped lead the Lions to a 35-1 record and state title as a senior by going 13-0 with a 0.33 ERA as he allowed only four earned runs in 65 innings

Peyton Battenfield, 6-4, 214, RHP
• Freshman right-hander from Claremore, Okla.
• Went 27-2 in four prep seasons at Verdigris HS and helped lead team to three Class 3A state championships
• Was 11-0 with a 0.22 ERA as a senior and racked up 118 strikeouts in 63 innings
• Also threw four no-hitters and four one-hitters during his senior campaign
• Named 2016 Player of the Year by The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World
• Brother of Cowboy junior pitcher Blake Battenfield