Oklahoma State Stays Perfect After Sixth Inning Power Surge

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State came into game two against Illinois State boasting a perfect 4-0 record in the young season. With Parker Scott on the mound and a perfect 60 degree 4p.m. first pitch, Josh Holliday’s squad was feeling good about their chances of improving to 5-0. 

The Cowboys scored one run in the bottom of the first on a Nolan McLean RBI single but fell into a fairly slow few innings before the Cowboys eventually ran away with it for a convincing 5^th win of the season, winning 8-2.

The primary action and excitement of the first couple of innings actually came from the hardwood as baseball fans watched an overtime Bedlam thriller on the big board in left field as well as their phones. After it was announced by Larry Reece over the PA system that Oklahoma State won the game in Norman, the energy shifted in the stands of O’Brate stadium as well as on the field. 

With a 2-2 count in the 4^th inning, Christian Encarnacion-Strand sent a ball into orbit, landing behind the left-center seats to extend the lead to 2-0 over the Redbirds. It was his second homer in the first five games of the season. 

The sixth inning is where the Cowboys would really open up the game. With one out and bases loaded, Alix Garcia slapped a 2 RBI double down the left field line to make it 4-0. The very next pitch though blew the game open as Cade Cabbiness took a fastball the opposite direction for a 3-run homerun, expanding the lead to 7-0. Next up was Brock Mathis, who wanted to be a part of the action, so he launched a no doubter off the seat above the left field bullpen. 

This means the game went from 2-0 to 8-0 in a matter of five pitches. 

Parker Scott was dealing on the mound to the point with 6 innings pitched, only four hits allowed, seven strikeouts, and 84 pitches. Oklahoma State pitching coach Rob Walton decided though that there was no need to send Scott back out for more and decided to utilize the bullpen to finish out the game.

Illinois State did manage to plate two runs in the top of the 7^th, but reliever Kale Davis managed to limit the damage, picking up seven strikeouts in his two innings of work. Colton Bowman and John Kelly would both come in to pitch the top of the 9^th, each picking up a strikeout, neither allowing a baserunner. 

Offensively, the Cowboys combined for seven hits, five of which were for extra bases, which included the three long balls. Defensively, the Cowboys staff picked up 16 total strikeouts and made no errors. 

Josh Holliday and the Cowboys improved to 5-0 and will now look to secure the series sweep with a Sunday afternoon win over the Redbirds.