Oklahoma State Takes Two of Three From Michigan in Baseball

While most of you were watching the first set of NCAA tournament games or trying to figure out who the Cowboys next basketball coach will be, Josh Holliday and his team took a series from a nationally ranked opponent.

The Cowboys took two of three from the Michigan Wolverines, a team that came into this series with quite a bit of expectations. This series win will help the Cowboys rebuild a reputation that took a number of hits early in the season.

Friday — OSU 6, UM 3

WP: Remey Reed (2-1) LP: Oliver Jaskie (3-1) SV: Blake Battenfied (2)

RHP Thomas Hatch came out with what was clearly not is best stuff in this outing. Hatch struggled with fastball command in the four innings that he was on the mound. He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on six hits, but it was the three walks that killed him.

The Wolverines did all their damage in the fourth. Jake Bivens had a two-RBI single and Matt Ramsay followed that with a bad hit for another run to make it 3-1.

However, the Cowboys answered back with three of their own in the bottom of the inning thanks Collin Theroux’s first career home run, which barely cleared the left field wall.

The bullpen took over in the fifth and made sure that the Wolverines would not get any more runs for the rest of the day. LHP Alex Hackerott got two outs before giving way to Reed who shut down the next 3 1/3 innings.

Saturday — OSU 5, UM 4

WP: Trey Cobb (3-3) LP: Brett Adcock (1-2) SV: Tyler Buffett (1)

The story on Saturday was Cobb, who showed electric stuff that Michigan hitters cold not touch. Cobb made a lineup that will contend for a Big 10 championship look silly. Of the 18 outs Cobb recorded, 13 were strikeouts. Cobb’s slider was nearly unhittable in this outing and left a lasting impression on the handful of pro scouts in attendance.

Adcock’s lack of control forced OSU to be patient, but after six walks Garrett Benge broke the floodgates with a bases-clearing triple to put the Cowboys 4-1 in the third.

Donnie Walton picked up an RBI with a double in the fourth to stretch the lead. The Cowboys bats would go silent for the final four frames of this game.

RHP Tyler Buffett made things interesting, giving up two runs after a couple of walks in the eighth, but shut the victory down with a solid ninth inning.

Sunday — UM 4, OSU 2

WP: Evan Hill (3-1) LP: Jensen Elliott (2-1) SV: Bryan Pall (2)

Elliott was effective over a season-high six innings, giving up only two earned runs (four total). The freshman also had eight strikeouts against a veteran lineup. Elliott kept the Cowboys in the game, but the offense couldn’t give him any help.

The Cowboys offensive slump continued on from Saturday until the sixth inning of Sunday’s contest. After nine scoreless innings Benge drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-1.

Benge would drive in another run on a double in the eighth to give him five RBI’s for the weekend. However, it would not be enough and the Cowboys seven-game winning streak would be snapped.

What we learned

• Cobb is a starter. I’ve been a bit critical of the handling of Cobb early in the season, but he appears to be cemented into the rotation after his incredible performance on Saturday. After Hatch’s struggled I wonder if Cobb might give a better veteran presence on Friday night.

• The bullpen is the best part of this team. Other than a shaky inning for Buffett, the bullpen was lights out his weekend. Reed and Battenfield will handle the closing duties with Cobb in the rotation. When Garrett Williams is ready to throw he will be in the me as well.

• The team isn’t even healthy yet. I just mentioned Williams, but OSU beat a regional-quality team without Conor Costello and Ryan Sluder, two mainstays in the middle of the lineup. This was a marquee non-conference series to win for the Cowboys and will put them in good shape entering Big 12 play.