The Cowboys defeat Missouri State in a close 8-7 game, fueled by a Cowboy grand slam, on Tuesday evening. Will rainy weather derail their scheduled weekend series?
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State baseball delivered another heart-pounding victory Tuesday night, edging Missouri State 8-7 at O’Brate Stadium to push its winning streak to eight games and improve to 9-3 overall.
The non-conference matchup, which started at 4 p.m. and stretched into the evening, displayed explosive offense, a pivotal grand slam, and great bullpen work before a tense finish that kept fans on edge until the final out.
Missouri State (7-5) struck first in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1 and added two more in the fourth for a 3-2 lead, the first earned runs allowed by Cowboy pitching in 32 2/3 innings.
OSU answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth when Danny Wallace beat out an infield single and scored on TP Wentworth’s RBI double.
The turning point came in the fifth. Three straight walks loaded the bases, and senior Colin Brueggemann stepped up to launch a grand slam over the left-field wall, his second home run of the season and fourth RBI of the game, flipping the score to 6-3. Brueggemann finished 1-for-1 with a walk.
Garrett Shull followed in the sixth with a two-run homer to deep left, extending the lead to 8-3 after Terrance Bowen’s leadoff double.
Missouri State refused to fade. The Bears erupted for four runs in the seventh, cutting the deficit to 8-7 on key hits from Brant Kragel (3 RBI on the day) and Taeg Gollert (2 RBI), plus doubles from Gabe Roessler and Carter Bergman.
Oklahoma State committed two errors but limited further damage. Freshman Noah Wech earned his third save of the season, working the final two innings scoreless after entering with a runner on, striking out the side in the ninth.
On the mound, starter Kai Fyke went 3 2/3 innings with four strikeouts before Brennan Phillips (1-0) picked up the win in 1 1/3 relief innings. Stormy Rhodes tossed a scoreless sixth with two strikeouts. Missouri State’s Tyler Charlton (1-1) took the loss.
The Bears struck out 17 OSU batters but couldn’t overcome the mid-game deficit. OSU recorded seven hits; Missouri State had 10.
Brueggemann, Shull, Wentworth, Wallace, and Campbell Smithwick (RBI single, stolen base) led the Cowboys offensively. Alex Conover also contributed a key walk and steal.
With momentum rolling, the Cowboys turn to a three-game weekend series against Gardner-Webb (Big South) at O’Brate Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, followed by 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs enter struggling, making Oklahoma State heavy favorites to extend their streak and improve to 12-3. Projected starters include left-hander Hudson Barrett (strong early outings post-Tommy John recovery) on Friday, veteran righty Mario Pesca (7-2, 3.39 ERA last season) Saturday, and likely Ethan Lund or another rotation piece Sunday.
If the Cowboys’ offense, already clicking with timely power, and bullpen depth hold, a sweep or 2-1 series win is the expected outcome, further solidifying their early-season dominance.
Severe weather could disrupt plans. Forecasts for Stillwater call for a slight risk of thunderstorms, large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes Friday afternoon and evening, the first widespread severe threat of the season along the I-35 corridor.
Saturday and Sunday look milder but include lingering shower chances. Games could face delays, postponements, or venue adjustments, testing the team’s adaptability as they navigate a nine-game homestand.
The Tuesday win highlighted OSU’s depth and fight, erasing a deficit and holding firm late. As Coach Josh Holliday’s squad prepares for Gardner-Webb, staying healthy through potential weather interruptions will be key to sustaining this hot start in Stillwater.