Cowboys Series Sweep Bearkats — Finished By Sunday’s 1-0 Nail-Biter

STILLWATER, Okla. — Sunday’s game was classic pitchers’ duel that lived up to a series finale billing, as the Oklahoma State Cowboys edged the Sam Houston State Bearkats 1-0 at O’Brate Stadium to cap a dominant 3-0 weekend sweep.

The victory extended OSU’s winning streak to seven games and pushed their record to 8-3, while the Bearkats fell to 4-7. What began as a scoreless stalemate through seven innings exploded into high drama in the bottom of the eighth, delivering one of the most exciting finishes of the young season.

Both starting pitchers were unrelenting.  Oklahoma State’s Mario Pesca delivered a gem, tossing six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, three hits allowed, and three walks. He set the tone early, punching out three in the first inning and inducing a critical double play in the second after the Bearkats put two runners on.

Pesca limited Sam Houston to just two baserunners over his final four frames, displaying command and swing-and-miss pitches.

On the other side, freshman Collin Aloisio was equally impressive in his start for the Bearkats. The right-hander held the potent Cowboy lineup to just two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings, striking out four and retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced.

Aloisio’s poise against a Big 12 opponent drew rave reviews, keeping Oklahoma State off balance until the bullpen took over.

The game remained 0-0 entering the eighth, with both teams trading zeros thanks to stellar relief work.

Oklahoma State’s Stormy Rhodes took the mound and fired two scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing just two hits to earn his first win of 2026 (1-0).

Closer Noah Wech then slammed the door in the ninth with a perfect frame, fanning two for his second save.

The thrilling eighth inning unfolded with two outs and buckle-up tension.

Ezra Essex, who had entered as a pinch-hitter and legged out an infield single with his elite speed, stood at first. Campbell Smithwick stepped in and ripped a single to left field. Sam Houston left fielder Kirby Orth bobbled the ball, and the error allowed Essex to race all the way home.

Essex dove headfirst into the plate, barely beating the tag in a cloud of dust to score the game’s only, and unearned, run. The crowd erupted as the Cowboys celebrated a walk-off style victory in the eighth.

Offensively, the Cowboys were limited to four hits but made them count when it mattered.

Smithwick paced the offense with two hits and added a stolen base. Essex contributed the pivotal run and an infield single in two at-bats. Alex Conover drew two walks, while Deacon Pomeroy added a hit and a walk. The team worked five free passes overall but struck out eight times.

Sam Houston actually out-hit Oklahoma State 5-4 and stranded nine runners, going 0-for with runners in scoring position.

Standouts included Cade Corcoran (1-for-3, BB), Wes Baker (1-for-3, BB), and Jeric Curtis (1-for-2, BB, SH, SB), each reaching base twice. Blake Brown and Caleb Cotton added hits, but the Bearkats left the bases loaded in the first and wasted other scoring chances in the sixth, seventh, and eighth.

The Kats committed two errors, including the costly one in left that proved decisive, while OSU also had two miscues but escaped unscathed.

The combined pitching excellence was remarkable as OSU’s staff recorded 15 strikeouts, while Sam Houston fanned eight Cowboys. Neither team hit a home run, showing just how good the arms on display were on Sunday. 

This hard-fought series finale highlighted the Cowboys’ pitching depth as they continue their strong start.

For Sam Houston, despite the sweep, the competitive showing against a ranked-level foe offers encouragement heading into conference play.

Up next, the Cowboys remain at home for a Tuesday, March 3, contest against Missouri State at 4 p.m.

The Bearkats travel to face Houston on Tuesday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Schroeder Park in a midweek battle to even their season series with the Cougars.