Oklahoma State University Athletics
Jensen Elliott
Cowboy Baseball Schedules Fall Series At Vanderbilt
August 24, 2018 | Cowboy Baseball
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State will travel to Nashville, Tenn., for a pair of fall exhibition games against Vanderbilt at Charles Hawkins Field in October, Cowboy head coach Josh Holliday announced today.
The Pokes will take on the Commodores Oct. 20-21. Holliday served as an assistant at Vandy under head coach Tim Corbin from 2010-12, helping the Dores reach the College World Series in 2011, before returning to his alma mater to take over the OSU program.
"When the NCAA opened the door to fall baseball, we really wanted to do something with the opportunity to grow our team and to make it a new focal point for us," Holliday said. "Coach Corbin is a great friend who I've learned a lot from, and he called about the idea of playing one another and doing it in a way where not only would we benefit from the competition on the field but on the building of relationships amongst the players and coaches. It's a chance for the coaches on both squads to coach against each other and exchange ideas during the weekend and get some good feedback.
"We really look at it as a chance for program growth, not just two ballgames. In addition to the travel and growth component for our group, the competition from Vanderbilt is very high and will give us a great feel for where we are as a team. And we'll tie into it some fun things for our players as a group that will help grow us as a unit and prepare us for the spring. This is a great opportunity and challenge for us."
OSU is coming off a 2018 season in which it finished 31-26-1 and advanced to the finals of the NCAA DeLand Regional before falling to host and top-seeded Stetston. For the Cowboys, who finished second in the Big 12 Conference standings, it marked the sixth NCAA tourney appearance in as many seasons under Holliday.
Among the returners for the Cowboys this season are All-Big 12 performers Colin Simpson and Michael Neustifter, along with regular starters Trevor Boone, Christian Funk and Carson McCusker, while Jensen Elliott, Peyton Battenfield, Joe Lienhard and C.J. Varela are among the pitchers who will be back on the mound for OSU in 2019.
Vanderbilt posted a 35-27 record last season and won the NCAA Clemson Regional before falling to Mississippi State in three games in Super Regional action.
The Pokes will take on the Commodores Oct. 20-21. Holliday served as an assistant at Vandy under head coach Tim Corbin from 2010-12, helping the Dores reach the College World Series in 2011, before returning to his alma mater to take over the OSU program.
"When the NCAA opened the door to fall baseball, we really wanted to do something with the opportunity to grow our team and to make it a new focal point for us," Holliday said. "Coach Corbin is a great friend who I've learned a lot from, and he called about the idea of playing one another and doing it in a way where not only would we benefit from the competition on the field but on the building of relationships amongst the players and coaches. It's a chance for the coaches on both squads to coach against each other and exchange ideas during the weekend and get some good feedback.
"We really look at it as a chance for program growth, not just two ballgames. In addition to the travel and growth component for our group, the competition from Vanderbilt is very high and will give us a great feel for where we are as a team. And we'll tie into it some fun things for our players as a group that will help grow us as a unit and prepare us for the spring. This is a great opportunity and challenge for us."
OSU is coming off a 2018 season in which it finished 31-26-1 and advanced to the finals of the NCAA DeLand Regional before falling to host and top-seeded Stetston. For the Cowboys, who finished second in the Big 12 Conference standings, it marked the sixth NCAA tourney appearance in as many seasons under Holliday.
Among the returners for the Cowboys this season are All-Big 12 performers Colin Simpson and Michael Neustifter, along with regular starters Trevor Boone, Christian Funk and Carson McCusker, while Jensen Elliott, Peyton Battenfield, Joe Lienhard and C.J. Varela are among the pitchers who will be back on the mound for OSU in 2019.
Vanderbilt posted a 35-27 record last season and won the NCAA Clemson Regional before falling to Mississippi State in three games in Super Regional action.
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