What a Difference a Day Makes - Cowboys Go from 20-0 to 1-0 for the Sweep
STILLWATER – The game on Sunday could not have been any more different from the win on Saturday if you simply mapped it out that way. Oklahoma State hitters blasted Sam Houston on Saturday for a 20-0 win where both teams agreed to play nine. Sunday, on get away day in the series finale, the run rule was in effect, but the curiosity instead was how long it would take to get a runner across home plate.
Going to the eighth inning, the score was 0-0 and Sam Houston had been held to just four hits by Oklahoma State pitching, including six shut out innings by starter Mario Pesca. The tall New Yorker that lost some 40-50 pounds in the offseason had struggled so far, but he was on this Sunday. Pesca faced 19 hitters and allowed just three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks. Sam Houston had allowed just two hits through seven innings.
The eighth is where Oklahoma State won it 1-0. It took the fastest Cowboy on the roster to get it done. After a lead-off-walk to Alex Conover, he was caught stealing. Ezra Essex, who could not get a bunt down, did single to shortstop. After Kollin Ritchie flied out for out number two, catcher Campbell Smithwick singled to left field. The Bearkats Kirby Orth had trouble picking it up. Essex kept going and despite a good throw home, his slide around to the back of home plate allowed him to get the hand in before the tag and score the only run of the game.
Noah Wech came into pitch the ninth after Stormy Rhodes pitched a really solid pair of innings. Wech got a fly out to center and then struck out Orth and Jace Martinez to finish the game.
Rhodes got the win to go 1-0 on the season and Wech got the save.
The Cowboys are now 8-3 on the season and Sam Houston falls to 4-7.
Oklahoma State will host Missouri State on Tuesday (March 3) as the home stand continues at 4 p.m.
