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Rounding Third: Sunshine Brings Wins For OSU

All of a sudden, the Pokes have won five in a row.

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9 years ago

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A great view of Allie P. (Twitter.com/Robertraab)

A great view of Allie P. (Twitter.com/Robertraab)

Record: 13-6
Streak: Win 5

Turns out, a healthy dose of sunshine and Alcorn State is just what this team needed.

Here’s what you missed with Cowboy Baseball last week:

OSU 13, Alcorn State 0
OSU 21, Alcorn State 0

When these two met in Stillwater last season, OSU won both games by a combined 33-5. There must have been something to prove this time, as this year’s squad won by a combined 34-0. Alcorn State recorded just three hits, and looked truly outmatched.

The series was effectively over after the first inning of the first game, when OSU sent 13 hitters to the plate and scored nine runs.

It was cruise control from there, and starter Conor Costello combined with Tyler Nurdin and Corey Hassel for OSU’s first combined one-hitter since 1993. 1993!

Game two was even more dominant. The Pokes scored in every inning – including three home runs – and Garrett Williams made the best start of his OSU career, striking out a career-high 12 hitters in six shutout innings.

It could have been worse – OSU left 27 runners on base in the two games. That’s something the Cowboys will look to clean up with conference play beginning this weekend, but it’s hard to find faults from this series.

OSU 3, Grand Canyon 2
OSU 11, Grand Canyon 4
OSU 8, Grand Canyon 0

Friday’s game got off to an exciting start, with each teams scoring twice in its half of the 1st inning. Then the rain came, bringing everything to a halt.

The game continued on Saturday, and Jacob Chappell’s RBI triple in the 2nd turned out to be the difference. Tyler Nurdin pitched four innings and allowed two hits in earning his first win of the season.

That would be the only close game of the week.

Conor Costello started the second game of the doubleheader with a three-run homer, continuing to swing a hot bat after his early-season slump. Six of OSU’s 13 hits went for extra bases, and Tyler Buffett pitched 6.2 innings of relief for his first win this year.

Michael Freeman started on the mound Sunday, and showed why he has locked down a spot in the rotation. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out four.

Dustin Williams blasted his second home run of the year, Gage Green hit his third triple this season, and the Cowboys earned their first three-game sweep of 2015.

Last Week’s Results 

Tuesday: No. 23 OSU 13, Alcorn State 0
Winning Pitcher: Conor Costello (1-0)
Costello: 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 K
Arakawa: 2-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Rosa: 2-3, 2B, R, RBI
OSU: first combined one-hitter since April 30, 1993 

Wednesday: No. 23 OSU 21, Alcorn State 0
Winning Pitcher: Garrett Williams (1-0)
Williams: 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, career-high 12 K
Green: 3-4, 3 BB, 4 SB, 6 R (ties OSU record)
Costello: 1-2, HR, 4 RBI (grand slam in 5th)
OSU: season-high 18 hits 

Friday: No. 23 OSU 3, Grand Canyon 2
Winning Pitcher: Tyler Nurdin (1-1)
Save: Koda Glover (3)
Nurdin: 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H (first win since May 11)
Game resumed Saturday in 2nd inning (rain)
Chappell: 1-2, winning RBI 3B in 2nd

Saturday: No. 23 OSU 11, Grand Canyon 4
Winning Pitcher: Tyler Buffett (1-0)
Buffett: 6.2 IP, 1 R, 4 H
Costello: 1-3, HR (2), 3 RBI
Hassel: 3-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 3 R
Arakawa: 2-3, 3B, 4 RBI

Sunday: No. 23 OSU 8, Grand Canyon 0
Winning Pitcher: Michael Freeman (3-0)
Freeman: 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 4 K
Williams: 1-3, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI
Hassel: 3-5, R

Offensive Player of the Week
Gage Green, Sr. OF/C

Green had an impressive week at the plate, hitting 7-19 (.368) with a triple and three RBIs. He had a record performance in Wednesday’s blowout win, tying a school record by scoring six runs. He also stole four bases, falling one short of tying that school record.

He now leads the team, or shares in the lead, in all of the following categories: batting average, at-bats, runs, hits, triples, home runs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and stolen bases. Quite simply, he’s crucial to this team.

When he has a good week like this, OSU wins. And that’s no coincidence.

Pitcher of the Week
Garrett Williams, Soph. LHP

Four different Cowboys got their first win of the season, but Williams did it in the most impressive fashion. In six shutout innings – admittedly against overmatched competition – he allowed just two hits and had a career-high 12 strikeouts in a 13-0 drubbing of Alcorn State.

His performance was just part of a dominant week from the pitching staff, which allowed six earned runs in 45 innings.

Honorable mention goes to Corey Hassel, who struck out the side in the 9th on Tuesday in just his second career pitching appearance.

Team Stats Leaders

Batting Average: Green, .338
Runs: Arakawa, 19
RBIs: Arakawa, 21
HR: Green, Costello, D. Williams, 2
SB: Green, 9
Wins: Freeman, 3
Innings: Freeman, 29.2
ERA: Reed, 0.00 (9.1 IP)
Strikeouts: Freeman, 28

Tweets of the Week 

Could have called the game at this point.

Does he hit this over the cabana?!

Six runs and four stolen bases in one game!

These uniforms are so sharp. 

https://twitter.com/Addie_McCain/status/577215677930455040

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