Oklahoma State Dominates Illinois State By a Combined 34-2 In Double Header

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State run-ruled Illinois State in both games of a Sunday double header to clinch the series at O'Brate Stadium.

The 14th-ranked Cowboys took the opener by a 16-1 count before posting an 18-1 victory in the nightcap; both games went seven innings. OSU improved to 9-6 with the showing, while Illinois State is now 3-10.

OSU starting pitchers Harrison Bodendorf and Hunter Watkins continued their winning ways as Bodendorf ran his record to 4-0 while Watkins moved to 3-0.

Offensively, Colin Brueggemann continued his tear as he went 5-for-6 on the day with two homers and seven RBIs and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Not to be outdone was Nolan Schubart, who drove in seven runs and had four hits in the twin bill, including a grand slam.

OSU returns to action with a midweek test Tuesday at Dallas Baptist before opening Big 12 Conference play next weekend against West Virginia at O'Brate Stadium.

Game One – Oklahoma State 16, Illinois State 1

The Cowboys got off to a hot start offensively as they jumped out to a four-run lead in the first inning, with their first five batters reached base safely and all nine batters appearing at the plate.

Illinois State responded with their lone run coming in the second inning.

Bodendorf commanded the Redbird offense, only allowing three hits and one run while striking out seven in his five innings pitched.

Three Cowboys tallied two hits a piece leading the offensive outburst. Brueggemann went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and drew two walks, and Brock Thompson followed suit with a 2-for-3 effort that saw him collect an RBI. Schubart went 2-for-5, scoring three times and driving in three runs of his own.

The next outburst from the Pokes came in the fourth and fifth innings. OSU tacked on three runs in the fourth and nine more in the fifth, drawing eight walks in the frame and getting a bases clearing double from Schubart to extend their lead to 15.

Matthew Brown relieved Bodendorf and kept the Redbirds off the board in the sixth, and Kash Ferris made his debut and picked up two strikeouts to seal the win.

Game Two – Oklahoma State 18, Illinois State 1

The Cowboys' offense picked up right where they left off in the nightcap. Leading the charge was Brueggemann, who went 3-for-3, homered twice and drove in five runs.

After giving up a solo home run in the first, Watkins dialed in and pitched five consecutive shutout innings. He racked up a career-high 10 strikeouts, the most by a Cowboy hurler this season, and allowed the lone run on six hits.

Jayson Jones knotted up the game at one in the second inning with a 430-foot shot over left field, his third homer of the season.

OSU claimed the lead in the third inning with a four-run rally. Drew Culberson gave the Pokes the lead with a safety squeeze bunt, and Brayden Smith added to it by stealing home before Brueggemann capped the inning off with a two-run home run.

Smith added an RBI double in the fourth to put the Cowboys up 6-1 before the scoring spree came in the fifth as OSU unloaded eight runs, four of which came off Schubart's grand slam.