OSU Baseball: Cowboys Triumphant In Home Opener

Oklahoma State returned to the win column Tuesday as the 22nd-ranked Cowboys posted a 7-1 victory in their 2016 home opener at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

OSU scored in each of the first four innings en route to snapping a four-game losing streak as the Cowboys improved to 3-5 on the season.

“It was good to win — we did some good things for sure,” said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. “It’s a step in the right direction, and we’re looking forward to doing it again tomorrow.

“I’m encouraged by some of the things we did and even more encouraged by some of the things we can do better — I’m excited about working on those things and getting to that point.”

Garrett McCain had a big night for the Cowboys as the sophomore outfielder tied a career high with three hits and collected four stolen bases, one shy of Doug Dascenzo’s school record for steals in a game. McCain led an OSU club that swiped eight bases on the night.

The Cowboys used four pitchers in the game with redshirt freshman Carson Teel earning the win in relief in his OSU debut. The southpaw worked two scoreless innings and did not allow a hit while striking out two. Starter Ben Leeper had five strikeouts in three innings of work.

OSU took an early lead in its first at-bat. Leadoff hitter Corey Hassel was hit by a pitch before stealing second and third, and he eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Dustin Williams, who recorded his team-high 11th RBI of the season.

The Cowboys took a 2-0 lead in the second on another sacrifice fly, this one by Jacob Chappell, before UIW (3-5) cut its deficit in half with its lone run of the game in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Brance Kahle that made the score 2-1.

In the bottom of the inning, McCain led off with one of his three singles in the contest, then promptly stole second and third, racing home after swiping third following a throwing error by UIW catcher Robert Lopez.

OSU plated its final four runs in the fourth compliments of two doubles, two singles and a pair of UIW errors. Hassel and Donnie Walton each had RBI hits in the inning, which Garrett Benge opened with the second of his two doubles in the contest.

The two teams close out their midweek series Wednesday at 4 p.m. Admission is free.