Bedlam Baseball: Cowboys Thump Sooners 14-5 in Final Scheduled Game in Norman

The Cowboys started off their final game in Norman with a bang. The Sooners threatened to make things interesting a couple times, but Oklahoma State’s bats were able to keep it at bay.

Oklahoma State defeated Oklahoma 14-5 in a nonconference midweek Bedlam game, the last scheduled at OU in the storied series.

Kollin Ritchie went 4-5, including a three-run bomb in the first inning. Tyler Wulfert went 2-5, including a first-pitch home run. Colin Bruggemann (1-5) hit a lead-off home run in the eighth. All in all, six Cowboys recorded multiple hits and eight of their nine starters registered at least one.

The Sooners welcomed 4,177 in the stands, the second-highest attendance in L. Dale Mitchell Park history, but the Cowboys quieted that crowd before it got a chance to get rowdy.

Aidan Meola’s RBI single got things going in the top of the first. Then, after Colin Bruggemann was hit by a pitch, Tyler Wulfert scored two with his shot to centerfield, and then Kollin Ritchie drilled a three-run home run past right field on the very next pitch. The Pokes had just one out. Jaxson Crull grounded out on a sac-bunt that scored Ortiz to make it 7-0 before the Sooners even took a swing.

Bedlam bombs are more fun 🤠💣#GoPokes | @kollin_ritchie pic.twitter.com/dOEZoKlHn7

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) March 13, 2024

Oklahoma showed some life, with a two-RBI single from Michael Snyder in the bottom of the first, but OSU answered in the second when Meona scored an unearned run to make it 8-2. OSU added three more runs in the fourth to make it 11-2. Oklahoma scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth to pull back within 11-5.

In the seventh, a Ritchie single was followed a hit-by-pitch for Avery Ortiz to give OSU two on with no outs. A Carter sac-bunt advanced two Cowboys into scoring position. Crull tagged a slider right past OU pitcher Miner and into center field to push the Pokes’ lead back to eight with just one out. OSU had the run-rule in play when Ehrhard walked. Crull got caught stealing third to give OSU two outs, but Benge walked. Meola still had a chance to enact the mercy rule. After falling behind 0-2, he lasted eight pitches before being struck out swinging.

Brueggemann’s lead-off homer over center field in the top of the eighth put OSU up 14-5 and served as a nice, crimson-colored cherry on the cake.

Bruegge Bedlam 💣 #GoPokes | @colinbrueggeman pic.twitter.com/nQ6KYnti6x

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) March 13, 2024

OSU went 17-39 with just one error while OU went 4-32 with four. Each team stranded eight runners, but the Cowboys took better advantage of their OBs, coming out with seven scores on 18 runners in scoring position while the Sooners went just 1-for-10 in scoring position. OSU entered the week ranked No. 76 in the NCAA RPI while OU came in 10th.

Ryan Bogusz got the start on the mound for OSU, allowing two runs and striking out three in two innings. Tommy Molsky punched out eight Sooners in 2 2/3 innings, but Gabe Davis got the win and moved to 1-0 on the season.

With the win, OSU moved to 11-6 on the season and 186-159 against OU all-time. Josh Holliday moved to 34-13 against his Bedlam rival. The Cowboys will host the Sooners for a weekend Big 12 series that starts April 5.

Next Up

The Cowboys head to Orlando for a weekend series at UCF that gets underway at 5 p.m. Friday.