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What Did We Learn From OSU Baseball’s 2-2 Opening Weekend?

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The Oklahoma State Cowboys started off the season with a moderately disappointing weekend, winning only two games against mid-major opponents. OSU was the only top 10 team to drop two games in the first weekend of play.

In Friday’s opener vs. UT-Arlington RHP Trey Cobb went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs (1 earned) in his first start since his freshman season.

Conor Costello scored on a balk in the fifth inning for the Cowboys first run of the season and then Corey Hassel plated newcomer Collin Theroux to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Coach Josh Holliday called for Collin Simpson to pinch hit with two outs in the ninth and the Cowboys trailing. The freshman came through with a triple in his first collegiate at bat, but Garrett McCain would then ground out to end the game.

Final: UTA 3, OSU 2
WP: Joel Kuhnel (1-0) LP: Cobb (0-1) SV: Daniel James (1)

Full recap here.

In the first of two games on Saturday the Cowboys received a great performance from RHP Thomas Hatch. This was Hatch’s first outing since 2014 after missing all of last year with arm injury. Hatch threw 79 pitches in 7 strong innings, allowing only 2 runs on five hits.

Hatch was not overpowering, but his hard sinker induced 13 ground ball outs. With the solid defensive infield that Cowboys have a pitcher like Hatch can thrive. Hatch seems likely to start a game in the road series against North Carolina next weekend.

Jon Littell and Costello each had 2 hits and 2 RBIs in the ballgame, a part of an offensive attack that didn’t start until the eighth inning. The game was tied at 2 heading into the inning before OSU struck for 6 runs, which ended any threat of the Lumberjacks pulling an upset on Saturday.

RHP Remey Reed came out of the bullpen to get the final five outs to give OSU its first victory of the season.

Final: OSU 8, SFA 2
WP: Reed (1-0) LP: Tyler Starks (0-1)

In game two of the Cowboys’ Saturday doubleheader they were given a chance at revenge after dropping the opener to UTA. Freshman RHP Jensen Elliott was given his first career start. Elliott worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning and then went on to throw four more scoreless innings.

Dustin Williams hit a two-run homer in the second to give the Cowboys an early lead. Littell and Costello both added RBI groundouts to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Sophomore Max Simpson made his OSU debut in relief of Elliott in the 6th. The JC transfer would allow 2 runs and only record two outs before being lifted from the game. RHP Blake Battenfield would limit the damage and the Cowboys exited the sixth with a 4-2 lead.

Conor Costello would tack on his second RBI of the game in the 8th clinching the doubleheader sweep for the Cowboys.

Final: OSU 5, UTA 3
WP: Elliott (1-0) LP: Jake Wilcox SV: Michael Mertz (1)

Holliday’s team wrapped up the weekend in Arlington with a disappointing finish in Sunday’s rematch against SFA.

OSU would load the bases and Costello drew a walk to get another RBI, one of six on the weekend. The Lumberjacks tied it at one when OSU freshman RHP Ben Leeper uncorked a wild pitch that scored a run.

The pitching staff’s of both teams would dominate the next eight innings and the game remained tied at 1 through nine. Tyler Buffett walked 4 hitters, but didn’t allow a run 3 1/3 IP. Buffett remained effective in the long-relief role he had success in during 2015.

In the top on the 10th with Littell and Walton on base, Connor Costello launched a double that would score one, giving OSU 2-1 lead. Williams would follow that with a two-RBI single giving the Cowboys a three-run lead heading into the bottom of the 10th.

Reed had worked the Cowboys out of a jam in the ninth, but clearly didn’t have in the 10th. SFA started off the inning with 3 consecutive hits that plated 2 runs, followed by a HBP and a walk. Reed struck out the next hitter, but allowed a single following that to score the winning runs for the Lumberjacks.

Final SFA 5, OSU 4
WP: Cody Adams (1-0) LP: Reed (1-1)

What we learned

• Thomas Hatch looks legit. Hatch’s efficiency was very impressive on Saturday. I would like to see him miss a few more bats, but groundouts count the same as punchouts. Facing UNC this weekend be a fun early-season test for Hatch.

• Offense needs consistency, should come with time. The offense was very dry at times this weekend. A .256 average for the tournament is respectable, but OSU will need more power to contend against a top-notch opponent like UNC. I expected better results from OSU against mediocre pitching like what was on display this weekend.

• Non-conference losses don’t mean much. Two losses in February isn’t the end of the world. The Cowboys should have a chance to get the bats warmed up in a two-game midweek series against Incarnate Word starting Tuesday. All should be corrected before the Cowboys head to Chapel Hill for the weekend.

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