Cowboy Baseball Wins Final Home Opener at Allie P.

Wednesday, February 20

Stillwater, OK

4:05 PM

Oklahoma State University

3-1

Little Rock

0-4

Little Rock

Oklahoma State

Andrew Navigato

February 20, 2019 | Cowboy Baseball

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STILLWATER – In the 39^th and final home opener at historic Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, Oklahoma State was a winner as the 18^th-ranked Cowboys defeated Little Rock by an 8-3 score Wednesday evening.

With the win, OSU improved to 3-1 on the season while Little Rock is now winless through its first four outings.

C.J. Varela started on the mound for the Cowboys, posting four shutout innings and tying a career high with six strikeouts, while Jake Lyons earned the win by tossing two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Varela, Lyons, Nate Peterson and Brett Standlee combined for 14 strikeouts in the contest.

The Pokes were led offensively by Andrew Navigato and Bryce Carter. Navigato went 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot and scored three of the Cowboys' eight runs. Carter was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and continued his hot start to the season, highlighted by a two-run single off the right-field wall in the bottom of the fourth inning.

OSU plated its first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Christian Funk delivered a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Navigato. The Pokes added another run in the bottom of the third inning on a Carter single to left field that brought home Navigato for the second time.

The Cowboys busted things open in the bottom of the fourth inning with a five-run rally to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

Dylan Gardner got things started with a single before walks to Carson McCusker and Trevor Boone loaded the bases. An error brought home OSU's third run before Colin Simpson made it 4-0 with an RBI fielder's choice.

Funk would pick up his second RBI of the game with a groundout before Carter's two-out, two-RBI hit concluded the scoring in the inning. Carter leads the Cowboys with seven RBIs on the season, each of those coming with two outs.

Little Rock was kept off the scoreboard until the eighth when Miguel Soto's two-run home run cut the Trojans' deficit to 7-2.

OSU returns to action Friday when they open a three-game series against Wright State at Reynolds Stadium. Friday's opener is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. start.