Oklahoma State Surges With Series Win, Brace For DBU Clash & Big 12 Debut At UCF

STILLWATER, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team is riding a wave of confidence as they wrap up a successful homestand and gear up for conference play.

With an 11-4 record, the Cowboys sit tied for the third-best mark in the Big 12 and boast an impressive NCAA RPI of 18. Under head coach Josh Holliday in his 14th season, OSU has shown can battle back, particularly in their recent series win over Gardner-Webb, which highlighted both offensive fireworks and pitching depth despite early setbacks.

The three-game set against Gardner-Webb in Stillwater played out as a classic comeback story. On Friday, March 6, the Cowboys stumbled in the opener, falling 19-5 in a lopsided affair where their pitching staff surrendered a season-high 19 hits.

Adding to the concern, starting pitcher Hudson Barrett left the game in the second inning with what appeared to be an arm injury. His condition remains “to be decided,” with no official report released from the team, leaving fans anxious about the ace left-hander’s availability moving forward. Barrett, who had been dominant earlier in the season with a 10-strikeout performance against Sam Houston, is a key piece for OSU’s rotation.

The Cowboys bounced back strongly on Saturday, March 7, securing a 4-2 victory to even the series. They sealed the win on Sunday, March 8, with a dominant 16-1 run-rule triumph, flexing their offensive depth.

Standout performances included home runs from Aidan Meola and contributions from the lineup that produced 12 hits. This series win extended OSU’s streak to two games and improved their home record to 7-1 at O’Brate Stadium.

Tonight, March 10, the Cowboys close out their nine game homestand with a midweek clash against Dallas Baptist at 6 p.m. in Stillwater.

OSU leads the all-time series 16-12, including a convincing 16-4 victory in their last meeting on April 22, 2025. The starting pitcher for Oklahoma State has not been announced. For DBU, right-hander Jerrod Jenkins takes the mound. The Patriots’ reliever-turned-starter is 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA over five appearances, striking out 15 batters while issuing eight walks in 12 innings.

Key players to watch for OSU include first baseman Colin Brueggemann, who brings power with a .303 average and 15 home runs from last season, and outfielder Kollin Ritchie, batting .377 this year with 11 homers. Infielder Avery Ortiz and outfielder Aidan Meola (.341 average) add consistency to the lineup.

Dallas Baptist, at 9-7 with a .296 team batting average but a 6.18 ERA, counters with standouts like infielder Chayton Krauss (.332, 15 HR last season), infielder Keaton Grady (.366), and catcher/outfielder Jake Bennett (.317, seven HR this year). Right fielder Ben Tryon leads DBU with a .383 average and four homers. The Patriots are 1-4 on the road, giving OSU a favorable matchup.

Looking ahead, Oklahoma State travels to Orlando for their Big 12 opener, a three-game series against UCF from March 13-15 at John Euliano Park.

Preseason projections rank UCF No. 44 nationally and No. 6 in the Big 12, making this a tough road test to kick off conference play.

The Knights, under head coach Rich Wallace, feature a retooled roster with strong non-conference wins and will host several NCAA Tournament teams from last year, including OSU. This series could set the tone for the Cowboys’ pursuit of a deep postseason run, as Holliday nears 500 career wins.

With a balanced attack and home-field advantage tonight, OSU aims to enter Big 12 play on a high note. Fans can catch the DBU game on ESPN+ or the Cowboy Radio Network.