Oklahoma State Get Outpitched and Outhit by Mountaineers in Series Opener

(Robert Allen of Pokes Report contributed to this story originated by Wade McWhorter of Oklahoma State University athletic media relations.)

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State dropped its series opener to West Virginia, 6-3, Friday night at O'Brate Stadium. With the loss, the 14th-ranked Cowboys fell to 23-12 overall and 7-6 in conference play, while the 25th-ranked Mountaineers improved to 23-11 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12. For Oklahoma State it was the fifth loss in the last six games.

Carson Benge powered the Cowboys' offense with a 2-for-4 night at the plate, hitting his sixth home run of the season in the second inning and scoring two runs. Zach Ehrhard also recorded two hits from his leadoff spot in the lineup.

Juaron Watts-Brown took the loss as he made his return as the Friday night starter. In falling to 4-2, the right-hander worked four innings, striking out 10 and allowing three runs on five hits and six walks.

The Mountaineers jumped on Watts-Brown early as J.J. Wetherholt led off the game with a home run. The visitors went on to score three runs in the first two innings.

Evan O'Toole replaced Watts-Brown in the fifth, pitching  2 2/3 innings and allowing two runs, while Brian Hendry closed out the night on the mound, striking out four and allowing one run in 2 1/3 innings.

Trailing 4-1, the Cowboys battled back with two runs on four hits in the fifth. After a leadoff single by Benge and a double off the bat of Beau Sylvester, an RBI groundout from Chase Adkison made the score 4-2. Up next, Ehrhard delivered a perfect bunt single to plate Sylvester and trim the OSU deficit to one.

After taking the momentum back, Roc Riggio and Tyler Wulfert each made spectacular defensive plays in the top of the sixth to keep the WVU lead at one run.

Down 5-3 in the eighth, OSU threatened once again, getting runners to second and third with one out, but failed to scratch across any runs.

The Cowboys will look to even the series Saturday at 6 p.m., with the series finale scheduled for noon on Sunday.