Oklahoma State Comes Back to Get Walk-Off Slam on Cincinnati

(This story originated with Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations and was written by Wade McWhorter.)

STILLWATER – Lane Forsythe’s walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning gave 20th-ranked Oklahoma State an 8-4 win over Cincinnati in Friday’s series opener at O’Brate Stadium. With the win, OSU improved to 23-11 and 8-5 in Big 12 play, while Cincinnati fell to 20-14 and 7-6 in the league.

Forsythe’s grand slam capped a career-high six-RBI night for the senior. Aidan Meola and Avery Ortiz also drove in runs for the Pokes.

Robert Cranz picked up the win for the Cowboys, improving to 2-1 on the year. The right-hander was dominant in relief of starter Sam Garcia, working four shutout innings while striking out a career-high eight, including six in a row during one stretch.

Garcia turned in a strong effort, picking up eight strikeouts over six innings and giving up four runs on seven hits.

The Cowboys opened the scoring in the second inning as Donovan LaSalle crossed home plate on a Forsythe sacrifice fly to center field.

That lead held until the fifth, when the Bearcats got a two-out RBI double from Alec Jones to tie the score.

Cincinnati took the lead in the seventh, tallying three runs on five hits. Hunter Jessee recorded a bases-loaded double to bring home two runners, and an RBI single from Tommy O’Connor made the score 4-1.

OSU was held to one hit until the eighth. Zach Ehrhard led off that inning with an infield single, and Nolan Schubart walked, setting up a Meola RBI single to cut the deficit to two. An Ortiz single brought home another run, and Forsythe delivered a sac fly to center field to plate the tying run.

Cranz struck out the side in the ninth before punching out the first two Bearcats in the 10th. A walk ended the streak before a flyout set the stage for the heroics in the bottom of the inning.

LaSalle opened the 10th with a double to right field, and the Bearcats intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases and bring Forsythe to the plate. On a 2-2 pitch, he smashed an offering from Christian Mitchelle off the batter’s eye in center field to set off a celebration.

The Pokes look to clinch the series Saturday at O’Brate Stadium with a 6 p.m. first pitch.