Oklahoma State Wins 3-1 Rally to Clinch Series Over UCF
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State scored twice in the seventh inning to secure a series win with a 3-1 victory over UCF Saturday night at O'Brate Stadium.
With the win, OSU improved to 21-21 overall and moved to 9-11 in Big 12 play with its second conference series win of the year. UCF is now 24-22 and 6-17 in league play.
Mario Pesca got the start for the Cowboys, earning the win after pitching 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out five and not issuing a walk. It was the most innings that Pesca has pitched as a Cowboy, topping his seven innings of work against Arizona on April 12, as he improved to 4-2 on the season.
Gabe Davis recorded his first save of the season, recording the final four outs of the game.
The Cowboys opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning. Brock Thompson reached on a leadoff walk and moved to third base after a Drew Culbertson sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Alex Conover then laced an RBI single to left field to put the Pokes up 1-0.
UCF's first baserunner came in the fourth inning on an error, but catcher Ian Daugherty threw a dart to second base to catch Eidan Espinal trying to swipe second.
To lead off the sixth inning, UCF catcher Dylan King hit a deep drive off the centerfield wall but was cut down going for a triple after a great relay by Kollin Ritchie and Brayden Smith with a nice tag by Thompson at third.
The Knights got their first run of the game and series when Andrew Williamson hit a home run to lead off the seventh inning to tie the game 1-1. It ended a streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings for Cowboy pitching, all against Big 12 competition. Pesca responded well, retiring the next three batters in order to finish his seventh inning of work.
The Pokes answered right back in the bottom of the inning with a one-out rally started by a Ritchie single up the middle. Ritchie and Daugherty then executed a perfect hit-and-run, with Daugherty singling through the vacated right-side of the infield to put runners at first and third. The next batter, Thompson, lined a single to center field to plate Ritchie and give the Cowboys the lead. Culbertson then delivered the fourth consecutive single with a line drive up the middle, scoring Daugherty and extending the lead to 3-1.
Pesca came back for the eighth inning to face one batter, inducing a groundout and completing his day of work. Brennan Phillips came on in relief and struck out the lone batter he faced. Davis then came into the game and retired the final batter of the inning with the help of a sliding stop by Smith at second and a nice pick by Colin Brueggemann at first.
Davis returned to the mound for the ninth inning, and the hard throwing right-hander was able to shut the door.
The two teams will close out the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
