Oklahoma State Powers Through Doubleheader, Sweeps BYU
(This story originated with Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations and was written by baseball contact Wade McWhorter.)
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State completed a series sweep of BYU by winning both games of a doubleheader Friday at O’Brate Stadium as the 19th-ranked Cowboys took the opener, 11-5, before picking up a 12-5 victory in the nightcap. In extending their winning streak to five games, tying for their longest of the season, the Pokes improved to 30-14 and 14-7 in the Big 12, while BYU fell to 16-24 and 6-18 in the league.
OSU smashed seven home runs on the day, bringing their total in the series to 13, and also recorded 29 strikeouts on the mound as the pitching staff posted 45 punchouts in the three games against the Cougars.
In the opener, Sam Garcia, Tommy Molsky and Gabe Davis combined for 16 strikeouts in the contest, the fourth time they have reached that mark in a game this season. Molsky picked up the win, improving to 6-1 on the season, as the right-hander worked 2 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts, allowing two runs on two hits in relief of Garcia, who started and struck out seven over three innings. Davis shut out the visitors over the final 3 1/3 innings to earn his third save; the righty picked up five strikeouts and allowed only one hit.
Offensively, OSU went deep five times in game one. Nolan Schubart and Zach Ehrhard both homered and drove in two runs, while Ian Daugherty continued swinging a hot bat with three hits and a pair of RBIs.
BYU got on the board first when Collin Reuter launched a solo home run to left field, and the Cougars extended their lead to 3-0 in the second on a bases loaded, two-RBI single from Ryker Schow.
The Cowboys responded in the third frame as Ehrhard delivered his ninth homer of the season. In the next inning, Ortiz launched his seventh homer, a two-run shot, to tie the game at 3-3.
OSU took the lead for good in the fifth. Daugherty got things started with an RBI to mark his eighth consecutive game driving in a run, and Ritchie then stepped up and delivered a two-run bomb to right field to put the Pokes up 6-3.
The Cougars countered with a two-run shot from Brock Watkins, creating a 6-5 ballgame in sixth, but OSU answered in the bottom of the inning when Ehrhard recorded a sac fly, Schubart added an RBI single and Daugherty smacked a double to right center to make the score 9-5.
Davis struck out the side in the eighth to keep a four-run advantage, and Benge and Schubart delivered back-to-back homers in the bottom of the frame to ice the game at 11-5.
In the nightcap, Brian Holiday picked up the win, improving to 4-3. The junior worked 7 1/3 innings and struck out 10, marking the third time the right-hander has reached double digit strikeouts a game this season. Robert Cranz closed out the final 1 2/3 innings as he struck out the side in the ninth to seal the win.
Benge hit his fourth home run of the series in the nightcap, while Ehrhard also went deep and added four RBIs.
The Cowboys opened the scoring in the first as Schubart doubled for his eighth RBI of the series, and Ritchie followed up with a single to left field bringing Schubart home.
BYU added three runs in the second scoring on a fielder’s choice, followed by a two-run shot to center field.
But a four-run rally in the second gave OSU a lead it never surrendered. Ehrhard delivered his 10th homer of the season on a two-out shot to left center that brought in three runs, Benge stepped up next and cranked his 11th homer of the season and fourth of the series.
Holiday picked up seven strikeouts over the next three innings, keeping the momentum with the Pokes.
In the fifth, a leadoff walk and a double from Ortiz set up Colin Brueggemann for another two-RBI single for the Cowboys, creating an 8-3 game.
The offense continued in the sixth, with two walks leading to Ehrhard’s fourth RBI of the night on a double. Benge followed it up with a single to bring home another run, and the OSU lead reached nine with Ritchie picking up an RBI on a hit by pitch and Brueggemann drawing an RBI walk.
The Cougars hit a two-run homer in the eighth before Cranz came on an closed the game out.
Up next, OSU takes on Wichita State for the third time this season Tuesday at O’Brate Stadium with a first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.