Seventh Inning Rally Lifts Cowboy Baseball To Victory

Wednesday, March 7

Springfield, MO

3:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

7-4

Missouri State

6-4

Oklahoma State

Missouri State

Brady Basso

March 07, 2018 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Oklahoma State used a five-run seventh inning to knock off Missouri State, 10-8, Wednesday at Hammons Field.

Reza Aleaziz picked up his first-career win in relief, while Brady Basso struck out four and kept the Bears off the scoreboard over the final 2 2/3 frames to record a save and secure the victory for the Cowboys, who improved to 7-4 on the season.

Offensively, Christian Funk recorded a career-high four RBIs, while Colin Simpson went 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a double. Michael Neustifter also had a big night off the bench, going 2-for-3 and providing a key two-RBI single in the pivotal inning.

The Bears (6-4) jumped on OSU starter Ben Leeper early, tagging the right-hander for four runs in the first inning. The big blow came on a three-run home run by Hunter Steinmetz that gave the home team a 4-0 lead.

MSU added to its lead with two more runs off Leeper in the second, knocking him from the game after just 1 1/3 innings in which he allowed six runs on six hits and three walks.

In the third, the Cowboys would get their bats going and cut into the MSU lead with a two-out rally. Andrew Rosa got things started with a walk, and following a single by Simpson, OSU plated its first run on an error. Up next, Funk blasted his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to right field, to bring the visitors to within 6-4.

The Bears extended their lead to three in the fourth, and both teams plated runs in the fifth, with Funk picking up his fourth RBI of the contest in the top of the inning on a groundout.

The seventh inning saw the Cowboys finally erase their deficit. Simpson opened the frame with a home run just inside the foul pole in right field to make the score 8-6, and after OSU loaded the bases on a walk, single and hit by pitch, Neustifter delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to tie the score.

Following a walk that loaded the bases with one out, Ryan Cash drew an RBI walk to plate the go-ahead run before Rosa made the score 10-8 with a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the inning, MSU threatened to erase its deficit as the Bears loaded the bases with only one out via three walks.

But Basso came out of the bullpen and struck out the next two hitters to get out of the jam.

More drama came in the bottom of the ninth. With the heart of the order due up, the Bears led off the inning with back-to-back singles to bring the winning run to the plate. Basso then struck out the next two hitters before an infield single loaded the bases.

Once again, Basso would get off the hook as he got Matt Brown to groundout to end the game.

OSU returns to action when it opens a seven-game homestand Friday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. The Cowboys host a three-game series with Eastern Michigan beginning Friday at 4 p.m.