OSU Baseball Sweeps Incarnate Word

The OSU baseball team got back on track by sweeping a two-game midweek series at home against Incarnate Word. This ended a rather ugly streak of four straight losses by walk-off hit and puts the Cowboys record at 4-5.

Tuesday

OSU 7, UIW 1
WP: Carson Teel (1-0) LP: Austin Preiss (0-1)

In the home opener, freshman RHP Ben Leeper got the start and was effectively wild, striking out five, but walking three in three innings of work. Leeper now has eight punchouts in 5 2/3 innings in his two appearances this season.

The combination of Blake Battenfield, Carson Teel and Jake Cowan combined to give up just two hits over the final six innings of the game. This was a refreshing performance after the bullpen woes the team experienced in North Carolina last weekend.

Garrett McCain led the Cowboys offensive charge going 3-4 while scoring two runs, one of which occurred on an overthrow on a stolen base attempt in the third inning.

Corey Hassel and Garrett Benge were also solid offensive contributors as each went 2-4 with a double.

Summary: OSU took care of business against a lesser opponent in somewhat convincing fashion.

Wednesday

OSU 3, UIW 2
WP: Tyler Buffett (1-1) LP: Moszkowicz (0-1) SV: Trey Cobb (1)

It was Josh Holiday’s agenda for this series to get as many guys on the mound as possible and he gave the game two start to RHP Joe Lienhard. Another freshman, Lienhard did a good job of keeping his sinker at the bottom of the zone, but had shaky command of the zone that led to
three walks.

Donnie Walton drove in Hassel in both the first and third innings for the Cowboys first two runs of the game. However, the Cardinals answered in the sixth to tie the score at two. I give Incarnate Word a ton of credit for battling with OSU the way they did.

Recap & highlights from Cowboys’ win over UIW to complete series sweep: https://t.co/EG5V5hT1Qv #okstatehttps://t.co/gUEVL5tjQq

— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) March 3, 2016

Hassel came up big in the seventh, sending a double into the right-center gap to bring home Collin Theroux and give OSU the lead at 3-2.

After losing two games last weekend, coach Holliday went right back to Cobb to pitch the ninth with a one-run lead. Cobb looked his old self in this outing, striking out two of the three hitters he faced.

Summary: Solid pitching makes up for lackluster offense in a game that shouldn’t have been close.

What we learned

• The top of the order is great, but who else? McCain, Walton and Hassel are all hitting above .330, but the middle of lineup is really struggling. Dustin Williams and Conor Costello are both hitting in the .220s and this lack of production has really limited what OSU can do on offense.

• The walks keep adding up. The group of young pitchers that OSU trotted out for this midweek series walked 13 hitters in 18 innings pitched. In a series against UIW you can get away with this, but lack of control was also a huge problem in the UNC series. The Cowboys 5.33 BB/9 rate on the season needs to improve.

• Leeper and Lienhard are both making a case for midweek jobs. The freshman were both able to show that they can effectively go through a lineup one time. This a good first step for two young potential starters. OSU has an enticing midweek road test on March 8th against Missouri State and I hope Holliday gives the ball to one of these freshman.

The Cowboys will be in action this weekend as Indiana State comes to town for a three-game series this weekend.