Bogusz Pitches Oklahoma State into Bracket Final at Big 12 Tournament
ARLINGTON, Texas – Oklahoma State staved off elimination for the third-straight game at the Big 12 Championship as the fourth-seeded Cowboys knocked off fifth-seeded Texas, 8-1, behind a stellar performance on the mound from Ryan Bogusz Saturday at Globe Life Field. With the win, the No. 7 Cowboys improved to 39-19 and forced a second matchup against 16th-ranked Texas (41-18) scheduled for today at 4 p.m., with that winner advancing to Sunday’s title game.
Bogusz dazzled in his first-career start, taking a shutout into the ninth inning and improving to 3-0 on the season. The right-hander finished with five strikeouts over eight innings pitched as he allowed just one run on five hits.
“Ryan [Bogusz] was in control of his effort level, so we let him spend the quality pitches that he had remaining today.,” head coach Josh Holliday said. “We would’ve taken three, four, or five good innings and been thrilled. Even though his pitch count was more than he was accustomed to, I thought he managed his pitch count well and I felt like he was under control. It seemed like when Texas got something going he became even more focused and composed, he focused on a good pitch rather than overthrowing it.”
Entering the game, Bogusz’ career-long outing was four innings earlier this season against Oral Roberts, and his five strikeouts tied his career best, which also came in that game against the Golden Eagles.
“I just took the inning out by out, and do the same thing out of the bullpen but started the game that way,” Bogusz said of his mindset on the mound.
Offensively, Jake Thompson led the way as he went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double and tied a season high with four RBIs. Ian Daugherty and Roc Riggio also had two hits for the Pokes.
OSU jumped on the Longhorns early. After Riggio was hit by a pitch with one out, Thompson smashed an opposite field home run to left to put the Pokes up 2-0. The blast was Thompson’s team-leading 14th of the season.
The Cowboys took command in the second, rallying for four runs on five hits, all coming with two outs. Daugherty got things started with a single, and Zach Ehrhard followed with a single of his own. Up next, Riggio doubled just inside the left-field line to plate OSU’s third run.
Thompson would follow with another two-RBI hit, this time a double, and Griffin Doersching then ripped a double of his own to make the score 6-0.
With Bogusz continuing to keep Texas off the scoreboard, OSU would pad its lead in the middle innings. David Mendham drew an RBI walk in the fourth, and Caeden Trenkle brought home a run with a single in the fifth to extend the Cowboys’ advantage to 8-0.
Texas’ lone run came in the ninth. After Bogusz issued a leadoff walk, Trevor Martin came out of the bullpen and surrendered an RBI double before striking out the next three batters to close out the win.