Super Regional Recap: Pokes Drop Game One

Well, that’s not what we were all expecting.

OSU actually got off to a good start. Starter Jon Perrin cruised through the 1st inning in nine pitches, and in the home half of the inning, the Pokes took a 1-0 lead on a Tanner Krietemeier groundout.

The wheels fell off in the middle innings though. Irvine took the lead for good in the 4th on a two-run single, scored three in the 5th after two wild pitches from Perrin, and added two more in the 6th thanks to a squeeze bunt and a walk with the bases loaded.

Krietemeier hit his 10th homer of the year in the 8th, a three-run shot that brought the crowd back to life. But it turned out to be a consolation prize, as OSU stranded two runners that inning and didn’t get a hit in the 9th to seal the 8-4 loss. It was the first Cowboy loss at home in almost two months.

The Pokes will need to recover quickly. Tonight’s a late start at 9 p.m., and the season will be on the line. A win forces the decisive Game 3 on Monday, but a loss sends the Anteaters to Omaha and keeps the Cowboys out of the College World Series for a 15th straight year.

Expect Tyler Buffett on the mound for OSU in Game 2, but don’t be surprised if pitching coach Rob Walton goes to the bullpen at the first sign of trouble. The Anteaters will likely send out their ace in Andrew Morales, who threw 11.1 innings last weekend in the Corvallis Regional.

The Twittersphere was fantastic last night:

I’m biased, but I agree wholeheartedly.

Oklahoma State clearly has the best uniforms in college baseball. ESPNU right now.

— CoachingSearch.com (@coachingsearch) June 7, 2014

Love Walton more, but Forte splashing from 35 feet next year will drive everyone insane.

Also…a team of donnie waltons or a team of phil fortes…who would we love more and who would drive opponents crazier? #okstate

— name cannot be blank (@Pokelahoma) June 7, 2014

A fantastic catch that saved a run early on.

Its an #SCtop10.@OSUBaseball RF Conor Costello saves a run or two with this diving catch. 1-0 #Pokes in 2nd inn. pic.twitter.com/6hQtUoP8pK

— ESPNU (@ESPNU) June 7, 2014

He seems confused. Or what’s known as “another day at the office”.

Travis Ford taking a look at what the Sweet 16 looks like – pic.twitter.com/PwFRTJSUuJ

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) June 7, 2014

Around The Big 12

The Big 12 Conference is hosting an impressive 50 percent of the Super Regionals this year, with Tech, Texas, OSU and TCU all advancing. Texas was the only other of the four to play last night, and got off to a good start with a 4-2 win over Houston. Mark Payton extended his Big 12-record streak of consecutive games reaching base to 100 with a two-run home run in the 1st inning, The Longhorns never trailed in this one, and need just one more win to advance to the College World Series.

Here’s the game times for the other Big 12 games today:

College of Charleston vs. Texas Tech, 12 p.m.

Houston vs. Texas, 1 p.m.

Pepperdine vs. TCU, 3 p.m.