Friday, June 1

12:00 PM CST

Oklahoma State University

South Florida

Cowboy Baseball Heads To Sunshine State For NCAA Regional

May 29, 2018 | Cowboy Baseball

Game Notes
Holliday interview
Player interviews

#3-seed Oklahoma State (29-24-1)

at the NCAA DeLand Regional

Fri., June 1 - Mon., June 4 • Melching Field (2,500) • DeLand, Fla.

Video/TV: ESPN3/Watch ESPN (Mike Keith & Rusty Ensor)

Radio: KSPI 93.7 FM/okstate.com/watch & TuneIn (Rex Holt & Matt Davis)

Live Stats: www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/baseball/d1

Twitter In-Game Updates: @OSUBaseball

About Oklahoma State

• The Cowboys are 29-24-1 on the season and finished second in the Big 12 Conference standings with a 16-8 mark, one game back of league champion Texas.

• OSU had 11 players earn All-Big 12 status this season, led by 2018 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Matt Kroon and All-Big 12 First Team starting pitcher Carson Teel.

• The 2018 season marks OSU's sixth under head coach Josh Holliday, who is 229-130-1 at his alma mater.

Cowboys In The NCAA Championship

• Oklahoma State is making its 44th appearance in the NCAA Baseball Championship, which ranks as fourth most all time, and the Cowboys own a 147-93 (.613) record in the tourney, with the 147 wins sixth on the all-time list. The Cowboys' 20 College World Series appearances are tied for sixth all time.

• OSU is seeking to advance to the fifth NCAA Super Regional in program history (1999, 2007, 2014, 2016). Should the Cowboys advance out of the DeLand Regional, they will face the winner of the NCAA Chapel Hill (North Carolina) Regional in a Super Regional.

• The 2018 NCAA Regional berth is OSU's sixth in as many seasons under head coach Josh Holliday. OSU is 13-10 in NCAA tourney play under Holliday — 9-6 in Regionals, 2-2 in Super Regionals and 2-2 at the College World Series.

The NCAA DeLand Regional Field

• Host Stetson is the top seed at the Regional as well as the No. 11 national seed and is 45-11 on the season, including a 29-3 mark on its home field. The Hatters are hitting .252 and lead the NCAA with a 2.58 team ERA.

• South Florida is the No. 2 seed at the tourney and owns a 35-20-1 record. The Bulls are hitting .299 and rank second nationally with 142 doubles while sporting a team ERA of 3.85.

• Hartford rounds out the field as the No. 4 seed with a record of 26-29. The America East Conference champion Hawks are making their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance and own a .270 batting average and 4.82 ERA.

Cowboys All-Time vs. NCAA DeLand Regional Field

Stetson (4-1) - 2004 News Journal Invitational at Stetson - OSU 17, Stetson 3

2003 News Journal Invitational at Stetson - OSU 9, Stetson 0

1997 NCAA Mideast Regional at Stillwater, Okla. - OSU 8, Stetson 1

1985 at Gainesville, Fla. - Stetson 11, OSU 6; OSU 15, Stetson 3

South Florida (4-4) - OSU 7, USF 2; OSU 14, USF 3 (2008/Tampa)

2004 News Journal Invitational/DeLand, Fla. - OSU 8, USF 4

2003 News Journal Invitational/DeLand, Fla. - USF 4, OSU 3

1997 Olive Garden Classic/Orlando, Fla. - USF 10, OSU 2

USF 12, OSU 11; OSU 11, USF 8; USF 9, OSU 8 (1985/Tampa)

Hartford (2-1) - Hartford 8, OSU 4; OSU 18, Hartford 4; OSU 13, Hartford 1 (2007/Stillwater)

RPI Talk

Oklahoma State finished No. 41 in the official NCAA RPI. Stetson was No. 4, USF No. 18 and Hartford 150th.

In The Polls

From March 4, 2013 to April 3, 2017, OSU was ranked in at least one national poll, a streak of 77 consecutive weeks. During that time, the Cowboys spent 18 weeks in the Top 10 and were ranked as high as No. 3 (by the NCBWA in 2014). They have finished in the top 10 in the final national polls twice in the last four seasons — 10th in 2014 and fourth in 2016.

OSU entered the national rankings for the first time in 2018 on April 23 and remained in at least one poll for five consecutive weeks before dropping out this week.

High Five

OSU entered the 2018 season as the fifth-winningest team in NCAA history in terms of winning percentage at .663.

Team Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct.

1. Texas 121 3,443 1,283 31 .727

2. Florida State 70 2,839 1,066 11 .726

3. Miami (Fla.) 73 2,567 1,058 18 .707

4. Arizona State 106 2,836 1,413 8 .667

5. Oklahoma State 106 2,586 1,315 4 .663

Building A Winner

In his first six seasons as head coach at his alma mater, Josh Holliday has built an impressive resume. Among the highlights:

• The Cowboys have earned six NCAA Regional berths, advanced to two Super Regionals and played in the College World Series for the first time since Holliday was a senior for the Cowboys in 1999.

• OSU has finished first or second in the Big 12 Conference standings in five of its six seasons under Holliday — first in 2014, second in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

• The Cowboys finished in the top 10 in the national rankings in 2014 (10th) and 2016 (4th) after ending the 2013 season ranked as high as No. 19. In 2015, they were ranked as high as 17th in the final polls

• In 2014, OSU won its first-ever Big 12 Conference regular season championship, and the 2017 club captured the second Big 12 Championship title in program history.

• OSU hosted NCAA Regionals in 2014 and 2015 and was the top-seeded team both times.

• Holliday has coached 53 All-Big 12 performers, six All-Americans, two Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honorees, a Big 12 Player of the Year and a Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

An All-American Streak

The Cowboys have had a player earn first-team All-American status in each of the last four years. The streak began with pitcher Brendan McCurry (2014), who was followed by pitchers Michael Freeman (2015) and Thomas Hatch (2016). Outfielder Garrett McCain extended the streak in 2017.

OSU has had 25 different players earn first-team All-America status in program history.

Close Calls

OSU is 57-34 in one-run games under Josh Holliday, and 60 of the Cowboys' 130 losses under Holliday have come by two runs or less.

Sweep-stakes

The Cowboys posted four Big 12 Conference series sweeps this season (vs. TCU, Kansas State, Kansas and OU), the most by an OSU team since it had four in 2016 and one shy of the program record set in 1999. It also marks the third time under Josh Holliday that the Pokes have had three or more league series sweeps in a season.

Comeback Cowboys

Come-from-behind victories have been a trend for the Cowboys under Josh Holliday; OSU has overcome deficits to win 94 games in Holliday's six seasons. The largest deficit OSU has overcome in 2018 is six runs — the Cowboys trailed both Missouri State (3/7) and TCU (3/31/Gm. 2) by a 6-0 score but came back to win both games.

Armed & Dangerous

In six seasons under the direction of coach Rob Walton, OSU's pitching staff has turned in impressive numbers.

The Cowboys' success under Walton includes 20 All-Big 12 pitchers, two consensus first-team All-Americans, two Big 12 Pitcher of the Year winners and a first-round Major League Baseball Draft pick.

Here's just a sampling of how the Cowboys have performed under Walton, who was named the 2016 ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year:

• Four of OSU's pitching staffs under Walton recorded an ERA of 3.29 or lower.

• In 2016, the Cowboys led the Big 12 with 574 strikeouts, 10 shutouts and 21 saves, each totals that ranked as the second highest in a single season in school history.

• OSU's pitching staff led the Big 12 in ERA in conference-only games in 2014 (2.43) and 2015 (2.50).

• The Cowboys' 2.84 ERA in 2015 ranked eighth nationally and was the lowest by an OSU pitching staff since 1973.

• OSU recorded seven shutouts in 2013 and 2014 and had 10 in 2016, the second most in a single season in program history. Those totals also marked three of only six times in program history the Cowboys have tallied seven shutouts or more in a season; in the 26 seasons prior to 2013, OSU reached seven shutouts only once.

• Jason Hursh was a first-round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Brendan McCurry (2014) and Michael Freeman (2015) were first-team All-Americans and Freeman (2015) and Thomas Hatch (2016) were named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.

• Freeman's 1.31 ERA ranked sixth in the NCAA in 2015 and was the fifth lowest in a single season in OSU history.

• McCurry set OSU records for single-season saves (19) and career saves (27).

Go Pro

During Josh Holliday's tenure as head coach, Oklahoma State has had 32 players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Eleven of those Cowboys were picked in the top 10 rounds, including 2013 first-rounder Jason Hursh.

In 2016, OSU tied a program record with 11 MLB Draft picks. (The 2007 Cowboys also had 11 draftees). The 11 draft picks tied the Cowboys with Mississippi State for the third most of any Division I program in 2016 behind only Texas A&M (13) and Southern California (12). Five of those went in the first 10 rounds, which marked the most top-10-round picks for OSU since five Pokes were taken in the top-10 rounds in 2008. Seven of the OSU players drafted were pitchers.

Like Kissing Your Sister

For the fifth time in program history and first time since 1985, Oklahoma State had a game end in a tie on March 18 against Seton Hall in Stillwater. Knotted at 3-3, the game officially ended with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning due to a weather delay and Seton Hall's travel curfew.

With Cowboy runners on second and third and one out, lightning was detected in the area. The game was delayed for 36 minutes and was just minutes from resuming before the lightning sirens went off again, causing the game to be halted and officially end in a tie due to the Pirates traveling to Oklahoma City to catch a flight.

The game marked the first ever at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium to end in a tie and marked OSU's first draw since the Cowboys tied Western Michigan in Lakeland, Fla., on March 4, 1985, in a contest called due to darkness.

Once In A Blue Moon

The Cowboys' back-to-back series sweeps against TCU and Kansas State marked the first time since 2014 and the second time under Josh Holliday that OSU has posted consecutive Big 12 series sweeps. The Pokes achieved the feat for the third time under Holliday with consecutive sweeps against Kansas and Oklahoma.

OSU also had a pair of seven-game winning streaks in Big 12 play this season, tying for the fourth longest Big 12 win streaks in program history. The streaks tied the 2014 OSU team for the longest ever under Holliday.

Chicks Dig The Long Ball

The Cowboys' 65 home runs this season are the most by an OSU team since 2009 when the Cowboys had 81. OSU ranks 24th in the NCAA in homers this season.

Ten different Cowboys have homered this season, and Colin Simpson's 18 homers are the most by an OSU player since Rebel Ridling had 18 in 2008. The last Cowboy to reach 20 round trippers in a season was Corey Brown, who smashed 22 in 2007.

OSU smacked 11 homers in its series at Baylor, including posting seven in the game two win. That total marked OSU's most home runs in a game since the Pokes had eight against Kansas in 2006; the school record is 11 set against Chicago State in 1999.

Also in that game against Baylor, Trevor Boone tied an OSU record by becoming only the 12th player in OSU history to hit three home runs in a game (it's been done on 14 occasions). Boone homered in each of his first three at-bats against the Bears.

Tank Smash

Colin Simpson, aka "Tank", enjoyed a breakout sophomore season for the Cowboys in 2017, collecting honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and leading OSU with 11 home runs while ranking third in RBIs (40) and slugging percentage (.492).

Simpson did the majority of his damage against Big 12 competition as in 22 conference games he hit .272 with seven homers and 23 RBIs — no other Cowboy had more than two homers or 19 RBIs in league play.

Enjoying another strong season in 2018, Simpson was named the All-Big 12 Second Team catcher and is hitting .287 with a career-high 18 home runs, a total that also ranks 12th nationally. He also tops OSU in RBIs (51), total bases (125), walks (35) and slugging percentage (.595) and is second in hits (59), runs (48) and stolen bases (8). He has started all 54 games for the Cowboys — 39 at catcher, nine as DH and six in left field.

Outfield Veteran

A constant in Josh Holliday's lineup card over the last three seasons has been outfielder Jon Littell. The senior is by far the Cowboys' most experienced player, having appeared in 189 games, and his 177 starts is 60 more than the next closest player on the OSU roster.

Littell has experience at both corner outfield spots as he's made 136 starts in left field and 53 in right field in his career.

A big reason why OSU finished second in the Big 12 standings is the play of their All-Big 12 Second Team outfielder — Littell was OSU's leading hitter in league play at .341 while posting a .560 slugging percentage with seven doubles, two triples, three homers and 21 RBIs.

Littell caught fire in OSU's 2017 run to the College World Series as he was the Cowboys' second-leading hitter in the NCAA tourney with a .379 batting average (11-for-29) in nine games.

What A Week

Jon Littell was rewarded with NCBWA National Hitter of the Week honors on April 3 as well as Big 12 Player of the Week accolades on April 2 after the senior led OSU to a midweek win over Oklahoma and a series sweep of TCU.

Littell was 9-for-15 (.600) at the plate in the four games with three doubles, two triples and four RBIs. He also scored nine runs, drew five walks, stole a base and turned in a 1.067 slugging percentage.

Against a TCU pitching staff that entered the weekend as the Big 12 leader in ERA, Littell was 8-for-11 (.727) with three doubles, two triples and four RBIs. He scored nine runs, collected 15 total bases and posted a 1.364 slugging percentage.

Mr. Versatility

Andrew Rosa is in his fifth season at OSU and is making his final collegiate season his best yet.

Rosa's ability to play multiple positions makes him a valuable part of the lineup. He's played in 145 career games, 91 as a starter, and he has been in the starting lineup at first base, second base, third base, left field, center field and DH.

Listed as an infielder, Rosa's first three starts of the season came at second base, but he was inserted as a starter in center field — a position he had never previously played for the Cowboys — during the two midweek contests against Little Rock. He has started 19 games at second base, seven at DH, six in center field and one at first base this season.

Despite battling foot and leg injuries throughout 2018 causing him to miss significant action, Rosa is hitting .289 with a .414 slugging percentage; his 11 hit by pitches are tied for the team lead and his .411 on-base percentage is second.

Teel Time

Carson Teel joined the OSU program as a walk-on in 2015 and spent that season redshirting for his hometown team. Since then, Teel has flourished into a scholarship player with a significant role in the Cowboys' pitching rotation.

In 2017, the southpaw led OSU with 28 appearances, 25 of those in relief, and topped the Pokes with a 3.06 ERA and three saves while ranking second on the pitching staff in wins (5) and strikeouts (77). He was a 27th-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in last June's MLB Draft but put a professional career on hold to return for his junior season.

In 20 appearances this season, nine of those in relief, Teel is 7-4 with three saves, and he was named an All-Big 12 First Team performer. He earned his first win of the season with 7 1/3 innings in relief at Arizona State; in his first start of 2018 against Missouri State, he struck out eight and allowed just three hits in seven scoreless innings to pick up a win.

Teel has twice been named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week in 2018 — on April 9 after tossing a complete game and striking out nine against Kansas State and again on April 30 following a Bedlam Series performance that saw him rack up a career-high 12 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings against No. 18 Oklahoma.

Teel ranks fourth in the Big 12 in wins and strikeouts (88) and ninth in opponent batting average (.254).

On The Shelf

OSU has been without what was expected to be two-thirds of its weekend starting pitching rotation in 2018 as both Jensen Elliott and Parker Scott are rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

A Freshman All-American in 2016 after going 9-3 in 17 starts, Elliott was 3-0 through four outings a year ago before undergoing surgery in April. The righty returned to the mound for his 2018 debut in the series finale vs. Baylor on May 13 and threw one perfect inning before tossing 5 2/3 scoreless frames in his next two outings against Texas Tech (regular season finale/Big 12 Championship).

Scott pitched in six games as a freshman a year ago before an arm injury ended his season. The southpaw suffered another setback when he underwent TJS in November.

Adding to the list, freshman southpaw Mitchell Stone, who started games on the first two weekends of the season, broke his foot on March 2 and did not return to action.

Shining In Stillwater

In his third season at the collegiate level, Matt Kroon was named the 2018 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and an All-Big 12 Second Team performer while showcasing the skills that have made him a two-time Major League Baseball Draft pick.

Kroon, who has started 36 games at shortstop and 17 games at third base this season, came to Stillwater following stints at Oregon and Central Arizona CC, and he has been among the Cowboys' most consistent hitters in 2018.

Kroon is hitting .302 and leads OSU with 61 hits, 17 doubles, 54 runs, 16 stolen bases and a .425 on-base percentage. The Arizona native has 18 multi-hit games and has streaks of 25 (current) and 24 games reaching base safely.

Kroon's father, Marc, pitched four seasons in the big leagues for the Padres, Reds and Rockies and was also a Nippon Professional Baseball standout in Japan, where he racked up 177 saves over six seasons.

Saturday Slugger

Carson McCusker played a key role in OSU's Saturday doubleheader sweep of TCU, and in doing so earned recognition as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on April 2.

The sophomore entered the day having made just one start on the season and with only one hit, a single, in 11 at-bats. He started both games of the doubleheader in right field and went 4-for-6 with three home runs, all solo shots, while also making several highlight-reel defensive plays in the outfield.

McCusker has started 30-straight games in right field since, and he hit .314 with six homers and 11 RBIs in Big 12 play.

Boone Goes The Dynamite

Trevor Boone has been on a tear at the plate since the start of Big 12 Conference play. The sophomore outfielder was hitting .192 in 17 games prior to the Texas series but in 35 games since has raised his average to .271.

Boone was named the Big 12 Co-Player of the Week on April 9 after a three-game stretch that saw him go 7-for-12 at the plate with a pair of doubles, a homer and three RBIs. Against Kansas State, he was 6-for-12 with two homers and five RBIs, and his go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning of the series finale lifted OSU to a series sweep.

Boone hit .293 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in Big 12 play, both of which ranked second on the team.