Cowboys Drop Opener At Texas Tech

Friday, April 24

Lubbock, Texas

6:30 PM

Oklahoma State University

27-14, 0

Texas Tech

27-15, 0

Oklahoma State

Texas Tech

April 24, 2015 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Oklahoma State's late comeback attempt fell short Friday night as the No. 9 Cowboys suffered a 5-3 loss to 18th-ranked Texas Tech at Rip Griffin Park.

The Cowboys brought the go-ahead run to the plate twice in the ninth inning but couldn't convert as OSU fell into a tie for second in the Big 12 Conference standings at 10-6 and dropped to 27-14 overall.

OSU outhit the Red Raiders by a 10-7 margin but left 10 runners on base, and four different Cowboy hurlers combined to issue eight walks, including five by starter Jon Perrin.

"It's disappointing on Friday nights when you're not at the peak of your game," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. "But I am proud of the way we pushed in innings seven, eight and nine. We pitched out of some jams, and our offense became more responsive. We pushed them late and had our chances.

"That's a very competitive Friday night baseball game in a power conference, and they got the better end of it. No time to hang your head - you just have to come out tomorrow with the same edge that you finished with."

Texas Tech (27-15, 10-6) took a lead it never surrendered in its first at bat. Perrin issued walks to the first two batters he faced before a sacrifice bunt put Red Raiders on second and third with one out. Following a strikeout, Eric Gutierrez came up with a clutch hit as he delivered a two-RBI single to give the home team a 2-0 lead.

The Cowboys' offense struggled early against TTU starter Ryan Moseley, who at one point struck out seven-straight OSU hitters.

In the fifth, OSU would finally get on the scoreboard, cutting its deficit to 2-1 on a two-out RBI single by Gage Green.

But the Red Raiders got the run back in the bottom of the inning and added to their lead in the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice by Cory Raley to take a 4-1 advantage.

The Cowboys threatened over the final three innings but would leave runners stranded in each frame.

Still trailing 4-1, OSU pulled to within in a run in the eighth with a two-out rally. Tim Arakawa got things started with a double down the right-field line, and Dustin Williams followed with a triple to center field to cut the Pokes' deficit in half. Up next, Corey Hassel sent an RBI single through the left side to make the score 4-3.

Following Hassel's hit, he promptly stole second before a walk and an error loaded the bases. However, TTU got out of the jam as closer Dominic Moreno struck out Bryan Case to avoid further damage.

In the ninth, David Petrino led off the inning with a single and two batters later, Donnie Walton was hit by a pitch to give the Cowboys runners on first and second with one out. But Arakawa popped out, and Williams struck out to end the game.

"We had a lot of chances there, put a lot of guys on base, and I really felt like a big hit was coming," Holliday said.

Arakawa and Williams had two hits apiece to lead the Cowboys, while Gutierrez was the lone Red Raider with multiple hits.

Perrin, who had won his last two starts, suffered the loss to fall to 4-4. The senior right-hander allowed four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings; he struck out five but also issued five walks.

"We need to just stay positive with each other and continue to grind," Holliday said. "We know that these types of environments and venues and teams are tough, and if you don't play at the peak of your game - which we did not - you're going to have a hard time winning.

"We know there's a better baseball game to be played than the one we brought to the field tonight. I always accept the responsibility when I look at our team and don't think they play up to their potential. I shoulder that - that's my fault for not getting these kids confident and ready. I'll do better. I'm right there with them, and we'll show up here tomorrow and play better."The two teams return to action Saturday at 2 p.m.