Oklahoma State’s bats exploded in a thrilling three-game sweep of Cincinnati, with Kollin Ritchie and Colin Brueggemann launching homers while chasing Cowboy legends. Josh Holliday’s squad gained crucial momentum on the NCAA bubble.
Will the Cowboys make the postseason?
STILLWATER, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team delivered a much-needed statement over the weekend, sweeping their three-game Big 12 series against Cincinnati at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater.
From April 3-5, the Cowboys took all three contests. 12-9 on Friday, 11-3 on Saturday, and 10-4 on Sunday, improving to 21-11 overall and 6-6 in conference play. The sweep lifted OSU from the bottom tier of the Big 12 standings into the middle of the pack, now tied for seventh as the only team at .500 in league games. Cincinnati dropped to 21-13 overall and 4-8 in the Big 12.
For head coach Josh Holliday, the series couldn’t have come at a better time. After a sluggish start to conference play, the Cowboys needed wins to build momentum and keep their postseason hopes alive.
Multiple outlets and projection models currently have Oklahoma State just outside the 64-team NCAA Tournament field, often listed among the First Four Out or on the bubble based on RPI (hovering around 41-47) and strength of schedule. This sweep provides a bit of breathing room and adds some momentum heading into the middle of the season.
Game 1: Friday, April 3 - Oklahoma State 12, Cincinnati 9
The opener was a wild, back and forth game that showed OSU doesn’t just lie down. Cincinnati jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but the Cowboys erupted for 10 unanswered runs over two innings.
Third baseman Aidan Meola and others set the table, but the power surge defined the comeback. Outfielder Kollin Ritchie launched a 437-foot, three-run homer in the fifth—his 18th of the season—cutting the deficit to 9-7 and driving in three. First baseman Colin Brueggemann delivered the knockout blow with a grand slam in the seventh (his eighth homer of the year at that point), plating four and flipping the lead for good. Brueggemann had earlier added a two-run shot in the second. Evan Saunders chipped in a two-run homer, and the bullpen held firm late, with Noah Wech striking out five in the final two innings. The offense racked up four home runs total in the victory.
Game 2: Saturday, April 4 - Oklahoma State 11, Cincinnati 3
OSU’s bats stayed hot, but the pitching stabilized for a more comfortable win. The Cowboys built a lead early and never looked back. TP Wentworth provided the biggest blow with a home run to right-center in the seventh, his seventh of the season, that scored four runs, including Ritchie and Meola from scoring position. The long ball and timely hitting powered the 11-3 rout. OSU’s pitching limited Cincinnati’s offense after an early exchange, allowing the Cowboys to pull away.
Game 3: Sunday, April 5 - Oklahoma State 10, Cincinnati 4
Holliday turned to the bullpen early, and the move paid dividends in a solid closeout. Brueggemann continued his tear with a solo homer to right-center in the second, his ninth of the season. Wentworth followed with a two-run shot in the sixth to push the lead to 10-1. Aidan Meola added his ninth homer of the year and drove in four runs overall, providing clutch production. Starters Bryce LeBlanc (first appearance of the season) and relievers like Jake Kennedy and Stormy Rhodes combined for 13 strikeouts while scattering just seven hits. The bullpen’s depth was a bright spot, especially with some starters dealing with health questions.
The power display from Ritchie and Brueggemann stands out as a season-long theme. Ritchie, already at 18 home runs and 48 RBIs through roughly 30 games, is on a historic pace. He’s chasing the program’s modern single-season mark of 23 set by Nolan Schubert in 2024 and, if sustained, could challenge legendary former Cowboy Pete Incaviglia’s all-time record of 48 from 1985.
Brueggemann’s hot streak, multiple multi-homer games recently, now sitting at nine, has him in the conversation as well, adding to a deep tradition of OSU sluggers. The duo’s production has been vital to an offense that scored double-digit runs in every game of the series.
Beyond the diamond, the weekend reinforced Oklahoma State’s identity as a power-hitting squad capable of comebacks and sustained pressure. The series also showed the Cowboys emerging bullpen reliability amid rotation tweaks, a positive sign for the stretch run.
Looking ahead, the Cowboys host Oral Roberts (ORU) on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m. in Stillwater for a midweek non-conference tilt.
They then travel to Manhattan for a three-game Big 12 series against Kansas State this weekend (April 10-12).
With conference play heating up and the NCAA Tournament bubble in sight, every series carries added weight. A strong finish could push OSU firmly into the 64-team field and keep the Cowboys’ Omaha dreams alive.