Cowboys Shut Out Texas Tech to Take Game One of Series
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Oklahoma State Cowboys jumped out to an early lead in the Big 12 Conference by knocking off the preseason favorite in the league in No. 4-ranked Texas Tech 2-0 on Friday night. Oklahoma State won with an economy of hits, an economy of pitching, and broke some impressive streaks for the homestanding Red Raiders. The heroes start with starting pitcher Parker Scott as he went seven innings allowing just six hits and one walk and striking out nine Red Raiders.
Scott had to get out of a jam in the third inning with bases loaded as he got shortstop Cal Conley to hit into a fielder’s choice as Nolan McLean charged a ground ball from first and gunned down a runner at the plate. Scott then struck out catcher Braxton Fulford to end the inning. Scott sailed from there into the eight before he gave up two hits to start that frame.
That was when Brett Standlee came on and closed the door striking out three and controling the Tech bats to finish the game.
“Those two pitched tremendous and they helped carry us to a really good win,” said head coach Josh Holliday. “That is a really good team we just beat loaded with good hitters and Parker and Brett controlled them tonight. It was a well pitched game overall as their starter had good stuff.”
The Cowboys only had three hits, but they strung them together in the fifth inning as McLean had a lead-off double. Caeden Trenkle got on by catcher’s interference and then Lubbock native Noah Sifrit came on a pinch hitter and beat out a Baltimore chopper to third base to knock in McLean. Then Sifrit went to second on a steal, but the double steal was on and Trenkle slid in under the tag at the plate. The play was reviewed but the call was upheld by video and Oklahoma State led 2-0.
“That was my intention to go to the bench early,” said Holliday of pinch hitting Sifrit. Noah is a really good player and I wanted to make sure we made use of his talents. He came in and it was a great thing to see him beat out that ball to third and then help set up the run on the base paths. I wanted to use the bench and then get our best defense in their late and that is what we did.”
The win ended a 14-game win streak by the Red Raiders as they had won straight through since starting the season 0-3 in a showcase in Arlington at the Rangers’ Globe Life Field.
Texas Tech had won 24 game in a row at home dating back to last season.
The last time the Red Raiders were shut out at home was March 29, 2018 when West Virginia won a 1-0 game at Dan Law Field.
Oklahoma State goes to 1-0 in the Big 12 and 12-3-1 overall.
The No. 9 Cowboys will send Justin Wrobleski to the mound on Saturday for a 2 p.m. start in game two of the three-game series.