Oklahoma State Falls To South Florida 4-3

Friday, February 7

Deland, Fla.

1:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

South Florida

February 07, 2003 | Cowboy Baseball

Feb. 7, 2003

Box Score

DELAND, Fla. - South Florida, sparked by a three-run third inning, withstood several late Oklahoma State rally attempts en route to a 4-3 win in season opening baseball action Friday afternoon at Melching Field.

With the loss, the Cowboys dropped to 46-19-1 in season openers since 1935 and snapped a two-game win streak in season starters.

South Florida opened the third inning with centerfielder Mike Cunningham tripling down the right field line off of Cowboy starter Joe Weaver . He would score three batters later when shortstop Myron Leslie grounded out to first. The Bulls then took advantage of a Josh Fields throwing error to plate two unearned runs to push the lead to 3-0.

OSU scored two runs in the fourth off of a single by leftfielder Scott Kirby to cut the advantage to one before USF responded with a run in the fifth to make it 4-2.

The Cowboys closed out the scoring in the sixth when second baseman Kenny Hansley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Pokes had the tying run at third with one out in the ninth, but USF closer Joey Livingston came in to record the final two outs of the game.

Centerfielder Jose Virgil and designated hitter Jeff Tuttle led the Cowboys with two hits apiece. Weaver took the loss on the mound while Travis Rios picked up the win for the Bulls.

OSU will be back in action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. against host Stetson. Righthander Scott Baker is slated to take the mound.

South Florida	003	010	000	- 4	8	2
Oklahoma State	000	201	000	- 3	8	2

Austen, Rios (5), Palinkas (8), Livingston (9) and Ivany. Weaver, King (5), Grogan (9) and Jaramillo. W- Rios 1-0, L- Weaver 0-1, S-Livingston (1). HRs: None.