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STILLWATER — The Cowboys hit as many home runs in one inning Friday night as they did all of last weekend.
Oklahoma State clobbered Texas Tech 16-4 in the first game of its three-game series at O’Brate Stadium. The Cowboys did their scoring off the back of seven home runs — four of which came in the third inning. OSU hit four total home runs in its three-game series in Austin last weekend. The Cowboys also scored more runs Friday night than they did their entire series against the Longhorns.
“The park was interesting today,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said. “It’s warm, but there was a north breeze coming in, and the ball really wasn’t carrying at all during batting practice. I didn’t think it would be much of a home run-hitting night, to be honest with you. I thought the way we swung the bats and drove the ball was extremely impressive.”
The third-inning barrage started with Ian Daugherty blasting a three-run shot to left. Then Lane Forsythe put a ball over the right-field fence before Tyler Wulfert did the same. The onslaught momentarily stopped as Avery Ortiz drew a walk just for Carson Benge to hit another home run to center.
3 ABs. 3 Hits. 3 Runs. #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/IUWwqCNHFH
— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) May 10, 2024
After all of that, Zach Ehrhard struck out in what was just the first out of the frame. Oh, and before the home run storm, Colin Brueggemann hit an RBI double. So, that’s eight runs before an out was recorded.
It was a day Texas Tech starting pitcher Ryan Free will likely want to forget. He started the day with a 4.79 ERA in 41 1/3 innings pitched. He ended the day with a 6.80 ERA in 43 2/3 innings pitched.
Before hanging eight in the third, the Cowboys scored three runs in the first inning. More home runs.
Ehrhard got the game’s scoring started with a home run to left-center. After a Nolan Schubart triple, Meola sent a ball nearly to the same spot in left-center as Ehrhard.
Starting early.#GoPokes | @Zach_Ehrhard pic.twitter.com/AScQu9QtEY
— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) May 10, 2024
For good measure, Brueggemann got in on the bomb dropping in the eighth with a grand slam to right-center.
Perhaps an oddity, OSU’s Friday home runs weren’t necessarily coming from the usual suspects. Sure, Benge and Brueggemann each sent their 14th out of the ballpark, but Meola and Daugherty each hit their eighth. Forsythe’s was his third. Wulfert’s was his fifth.
The Cowboys entered the day in second in the Big 12 in home runs with 90, meaning they’re now up to 97. OSU has hit at least 90 home runs the past three seasons. Before that, the Cowboys had conquered that feat just once since 2000 (93 home runs in 2019).
“We have some big fellas,” Holliday said. “We certainly probably prioritize power over speed. We’re not looking to steal 100. We’ll hit 100, but we’re not looking to steal 100. First base, you got a 6-foot-7 guy [Brueggemann]. Brueggey got here because he can really hit. In left field, we’ve got one of the most unique power-hitting left fielders in the country [Schubart]. His game is to drive the ball to all fields and hit it over the fence. Some people might go look for a 30 stolen base guy in left. We looked for the best power hitter in the upper midwest United States.”
On top of the offensive outburst, the Cowboys got a solid day’s work on the mound from starter Sam Garcia. A left-hander who transferred from High Point this offseason, Garcia threw seven inning, giving up just one run off five hits while walking two, hitting one and striking out 10.
Up Next
The Cowboys’ series against Tech continues at 6 p.m. Saturday in O’Brate.
Josh Holliday’s Postgame News Conference
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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.