After a disheartening 12-8 loss in the opener, the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team battled back, rattling off three straight victories to claim a dominant 3-1 series win over the Grand Canyon Lopes in Phoenix
PHOENIX, AZ — The Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team headed to the desert for a four-game series against the Grand Canyon Lopes at Brazell Field in Phoenix, Arizona, from February 19-22, 2026.
What began as a stumble turned into a statement of “hey, we fight back!”, as OSU lost the opener but dominated the next three games to secure a 3-1 series victory.
This matchup tested the Cowboys against a solid mid-major program in GCU, known for its competitive WAC play and recent postseason appearances.
Game 1 on Thursday was a slugfest, with GCU prevailing 12-8. The Lopes jumped ahead 3-0 in the first on Cannon Peery’s three-run homer. OSU tied it in the third via solo shots from Kollin Ritchie and a two-run blast by Aidan Meola, but GCU’s offense exploded with 12 hits, nine walks, and three homers total.
Griffin Cameron drove in three runs, and Dominic Chacon scored twice. OSU tallied 12 hits but issued nine walks, with starter Bryce LeBlanc (0-1) taking the loss. The defeat dropped the Cowboys to 1-3, exposing early season pitching woes.
The loss could have derailed OSU, but the team responded with poise. Coach Josh Holliday, drawing on his experience guiding the Cowboys to 12 straight NCAA Regionals, emphasized adjustments in pitching strategy and some mental toughness.
“We focused on owning our at-bats and tightening up on the mound, it’s about responding, not reacting,” Holliday said in post-series comments via Oklahoma State Athletics.
His preparation shone through, as OSU’s staff limited GCU to just 17 hits over the final three games while the offense erupted for 40 hits.
Friday’s Game 2 saw OSU rebound with a convincing 9-1 win. After a scoreless start, the Cowboys scored one in the third and five in the fourth, capped by Meola’s grand slam. Ritchie added another homer, and Hudson Barrett (1-1) dominated with one run allowed over six innings. OSU outhit GCU 12-7, showing their improved plate discipline with only three strikeouts.
Saturday brought more fireworks in a 10-7 victory, OSU’s season-high 16 hits powering the effort. Trailing 2-0 early, the Cowboys plated five in the third and four in the fourth. Meola went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Ritchie homered again for two more. Kai Fyke (1-0) earned the win in relief, with Noah Wech securing the save.
GCU countered with eight hits, including two RBIs from Peery, but stranded nine runners.
The series clincher on Sunday was a 13-2 rout. OSU scored five in the first and four in the fourth, blasting homers from Colin Brueggemann, Ritchie, and Meola.
Ethan Lund (1-0) picked up the win, holding GCU to two hits. Billy Scaldeferri provided GCU’s spark with a solo homer, finishing the series 6-for-12 (.500).
Standout stats highlighted OSU’s turnaround.
Meola led with three homers and 10 RBIs, Ritchie added four homers and seven RBIs, and the team hit .372 (40-for-107) after Game 1 with 10 homers total. Pitching improved to a 3.00 ERA in the wins.
For GCU (2-5), Peery paced with two homers and five RBIs, but the Lopes hit just .198 (17-for-86) in the losses, with a staff ERA ballooning to 9.00.
Next up, OSU hosts Central Arkansas on February 24 in Stillwater, followed by a three-game series against Sam Houston February 27-March 1.
The Cowboys’ 4-3 start is acceptable but not yet championship caliber, with early inconsistencies in pitching.
However, facing quality foes like GCU and prior ranked opponents in the opening weekend has provided valuable tests for growth ahead of Big 12 battles.
Cowboy baseball, facing quality competitors to begin the season, has been tested early and their 4-3 start, in my opinion, is acceptable, for now - though their work is cut out for them going forward if they wish to see Omaha.