OSU Baseball: Cowboys Beat South Carolina, One Win Away From Omaha

The Oklahoma State baseball team is now only one win away from the College World Series after taking down South Carolina 5-1 on Saturday afternoon in Columbia. The Cowboys now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Super Regional series.

Collin Theroux's three-run homer in the ninth inning was the dagger as OSU is now 4-0 all time against South Carolina. 

After a slow start from both clubs, OSU’s Ryan Sluder turned on the offense to start the third inning. The junior smacked his fourth homer of the year over the centerfield wall that broke the tie and gave the Cowboys an early 1-0 lead.  

But one run in the third wasn’t enough in the eyes of the Cowboys.

Lead-off man J.R. Davis reached base after getting hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second base on a passed ball, all before Corey Hassel drove him in with a single up the middle that put OSU up 2-0.

While the offense was rolling, OSU’s defense wasn’t playing too shabby either. The Gamecocks were gaining some momentum in the bottom of the fourth with runners on first and second with no outs, but an infield pop fly, a Thomas Hatch strikeout, and a tremendous tag out at home by catcher Collin Theroux kept South Carolina scoreless.

Another key defensive inning came in the eighth after Garrett Williams replaced Thomas Hatch after the sophomore tossed seven scoreless innings. Williams struggled out of the gate and the only South Carolina batter he faced in only four pitches. Williams was quickly replaced by Cobb and put in the tough situation with no outs and a runner on, but Cobb was able to confidently put down the next three Gamecocks' batters to get out of the jam. 

Theroux's three-run homer in the ninth put the finishing touches on the win as the Cowboys continue their hot streak. 

Game 2 of the series will be played Sunday afternoon at 2.