OSU Baseball: Cowboys Run Rule Texas Tech in Series Opener

The Cowboys’ pitching staff resembles a M.A.S.H. unit at this point in the season, but that didn’t stop the Cowboys from picking up a series-opening win in Lubbock.

Oklahoma State beat Texas Tech 16-6 in seven innings on Friday afternoon.

The Cowboys separated from the Red Raiders in the third and didn’t look back.

It was a nine-run inning that started with Kollin Ritchie drawing a walk in an impressive at-bat that saw him foul off the first two pitches before taking four straight balls. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third when Aidan Meola singled through the left side.

That brought up Campbell Smithwick, who singled, scoring Ritchie.

Then freshman Sebastian Norman ripped a homer to left, the three run shot made it 7-1.

NO. DOUBT. NORMAN. 💪

This baseball is still in orbit btw#GoPokes | @14sebastiann pic.twitter.com/vb9UP35Wfz

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) April 24, 2026

Unfortunately for the Red Raiders, the Cowboys weren’t done there.

Garrett Shull walked, Alex Conover singled and Brock Thompson walked to load the bases. Ritchie then got back up for his second AB of the inning, where he got a ball through the right side to score a run.

Then Meola clobbered a ball to left-center. The grand slam was his 11th home run of the season. It gave OSU a 12-1 lead.

Write this down ✍️

Aidan Meola with the grand slam for his 11th bomb of the season#GoPokes | @aidanmeola1 pic.twitter.com/QnhCFJTwAy

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) April 24, 2026

Tech would fight back in the home half of the inning, plating three runs before the teams traded runs in the fourth, making it 13-5 Cowboys.

It stayed that way until the seventh when the Cowboys scored three more. One run came off a Meola single. The other two came off a Smithwick double.

Easy come, easy go 🤠

A couple more RBIs for @aidanmeola1 and @campbellrsoup #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/kr6CQea4uY

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) April 24, 2026

Tech got one back in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the mercy rule.

There were standout performances up and down the Cowboy lineup, but it’s hard to argue anyone had a better day than Meola. Again battling through injuries, Meola went 4-for-5 at the dish Friday with six RBIs and two runs scored.

Conover and Norman each had three hits, with Conover going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI from the leadoff spot, while Norman, a freshman, went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

It was good to get the game over early for the Cowboys’ banged up pitching staff. Sophomore Ethan Lund got the start and threw six innings where he allowed five runs off 10 hits while walking four and striking out four. Kai Fyke threw the final frame, allowing a run off two hits while walking one and striking out two.

The Cowboys advance to 26-16 on the year and are on the bubble in terms of making the NCAA Tournament, but they’re on a decent stretch of form having run-ruled Wichita State and now Tech in consecutive games.

OSU will look to clinch the series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Lubbock. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.