Oklahoma State will honor the 2026 Cowboy Hall of Fame Class tonight against Cincinnati.
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State baseball delivered a thrilling comeback victory on Friday afternoon at O’Brate Stadium, defeating Cincinnati 12-9 in the first game of a Big 12 series.
The Cowboys (19-11, 4-6 Big 12) trailed 9-2 after five innings but exploded for five runs in the fifth and another five in the seventh, powered by four home runs.
Cincinnati (21-11, 4-6 Big 12) built its lead with three home runs and a season high 11 walks, despite managing just six hits. Jack Natili launched a three-run homer in the third to put the Bearcats ahead 3-2. Christian Mitchelle scored an unearned run in the fourth on Charlie Niehaus’s sacrifice fly.
Then in the fifth, Enzo Infelise crushed a three-run homer and Niehaus followed with a two-run shot, pushing the lead to 9-2.
Oklahoma State responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Garrett Shull tripled, and Evan Saunders followed with a two-run homer to left, his first of the season, cutting the deficit to 9-4.
Alex Conover and Brock Thompson walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Kollin Ritchie, who blasted a three-run homer to center (his 18th of the season) to make it 9-7.
The Cowboys took control in the seventh. With the bases loaded, first baseman Colin Brueggemann crushed a grand slam to right-center, his second homer of the game (he also hit a two-run shot in the second). Brueggemann finished with two homers and a game-high six RBI. Saunders added an RBI single later in the inning to cap the 12-9 final. Ritchie drove in three runs with his blast, while Saunders had three RBI total.
On the mound, starter Ethan Lund battled through 4⅓ innings. Reliever Jake Kennedy (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless, hitless innings of relief, striking out three. Closer Noah Wech notched his fifth save, fanning five of the eight batters he faced. The OSU staff struck out 17 Bearcats overall.
The victory improved the Cowboys to 4-6 in conference play and kept their season home run total rolling (they now sit among the national leaders). Brueggemann’s eighth homer of the year and Ritchie’s 18th highlighted a potent offensive showing in which half of OSU’s eight hits left the yard.
Oklahoma State will host Cincinnati in game two of the series tonight at 6 p.m. at O’Brate Stadium. Prior to first pitch, the Cowboys will honor the 2026 Cowboy Baseball Hall of Fame class on the field, with each inductee throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.
The class includes:
• Dave Holliday, assistant coach from 1982-87, who played a key role in one of the program’s most successful eras, helping the Cowboys win Big Eight titles, reach multiple College World Series, and develop stars like Pete Incaviglia and Robin Ventura.
• Rex Holt, “The Voice of Cowboy Baseball,” who has called OSU games for 44 seasons and remains a beloved connection between generations of fans and the program.
• Tyler Lyons, standout pitcher (2007-10) and All-Big 12 performer who went on to a Major League career, primarily with the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Freddie Moulder, the first African-American player in OSU baseball history (1965). A talented infielder who hit .280 with seven home runs and 20 RBI, he became the first Cowboy drafted into Major League Baseball and also excelled on the basketball court.
Fans can expect a special pregame ceremony celebrating these legends before the Cowboys look to take a series lead against the Bearcats. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.