Oklahoma State had a little desert magic as the Pokes put six runs across in the top of the ninth inning to beat No. 16 Arizona State 9-6 in game one.
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 32-17 overall on the season, 15-10 in Big 12 play and have now won seven Big 12 games in a row.
It was a tight ball game most of the night as the Pokes and Sun Devils were tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Hudson Barrett was on the mound in relief for the Pokes and gave up three runs to essentially give the Sun Devils a 6-3 win, but the Pokes’ offense wouldn’t be denied.
Colin Brueggemann doubled to left field, with Brady Francisco going into the game to pinch run. Avery Ortiz, who was pinch hitting for Danny Wallace, reached on a fielder’s choice hit to third. Francisco scored from second on a throwing error from Sun Devils third baseman Austen Roellig.
Remo Indomenico, who pinch ran for Ortiz, scored following an Alex Conover single and Brock Thompson sacrifice fly to left.
As you would expect, Kollin Ritchie was intentionally walked, but that brought up Aidan Meola, who’s been red-hot from the plate recently, and he hit a double to left field to score Conover from second to tie the game at six all.
Enter Campbell Smithwick.
With two on, two outs, Smithwick hits the second pitch of the at bat 417 feet to clear the bases and give the Pokes a 9-6 lead.
Things looked a little hairy in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Sun Devils had two on with two hits, but Mario Pesca recorded a strikeout on a dropped third strike to clinch the win for the Pokes.
The Pokes and Sun Devils are back in action Saturday as first pitch is at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
