Oklahoma State Sweeps Central Michigan with a 19-0 Win

(This story originated by Oklahoma State University athletic media relations and written by Wade McWhorter.)

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State cruised to a series sweep of Central Michigan with a 19-0 win in Sunday’s finale at O’Brate Stadium. With the win, the Cowboys improved to 7-4, while CMU fell to 3-9.

All nine Cowboys in the starting lineup collected RBIs in the contest, with Carson Benge’s career-high seven leading the way. Benge was also one of five Pokes who had multiple hits in the contest, with Kollin Ritchie’s 4-for-6 effort topping the list.

Janzen Keisel picked up the win on the mound to improve to 2-1 on the season as the right-hander worked five innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. Bryson Hudgens, Kyle Bade and Benge followed on the mound to secure OSU’s first shutout of the season.

The Cowboys jumped on CMU starter Adam Mrakitsch from the get go, tagging the southpaw for eight runs on six hits and knocking him out of the game after eight batters before he recorded an out.

All told, OSU put up 10 runs in the first inning, getting RBI singles from Colin Brueggemann, Ritchie and Lane Forsythe with Tyler Wulfert and Zach Ehrhard also collecting RBIs. The Pokes also used the long ball to fuel their rally as Benge and Avery Ortiz delivered back-to-back home runs for OSU’s final two runs of the frame. Benge’s blast marked his first of the season, while Ortiz went deep for the first time in his career.

Leading 11-0 after five, OSU had another big inning in the sixth as the Cowboys added six runs to their lead. Charlie Carter brought home the first two runs with his first-career hit, a single to right field, and Benge provided the big blow with an opposite-field grand slam.

In the seventh, Ritchie smashed the first homer of his career to complete a three-RBI day, and Benge capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

The Cowboys return to action Tuesday with the first of two midweek contests against Utah Tech at O’Brate Stadium. Both games are scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch.