Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Top K-State, Remain In Winner's Bracket
May 21, 2015 | Cowboy Baseball
TULSA, Okla. -- Oklahoma State remained in the winner's bracket at the Big 12 Conference Baseball Championship with a convincing 10-1 win over Kansas State Thursday night at ONEOK Field.With the win, the 11th-ranked Cowboys improved to 36-17 and are within one victory of advancing to the Big 12 tourney title game for the second-straight year. OSU will return to action Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against the winner of Friday's Oklahoma/Kansas State game. That team will need to beat the Pokes twice to eliminate them.
Michael Freeman led the Cowboys to victory against K-State (27-29) as the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year tossed his fourth complete game of the season to improve to 10-2. The senior southpaw allowed just six hits, all singles, and struck out seven.
OSU had plenty of offense behind their ace as coach Josh Holliday's ballclub collected 14 hits, led by three apiece from Donnie Walton and Tim Arakawa. That duo also played outstanding defense up the middle with Walton and shortstop and Arakawa at second base combining to record 13 ground ball outs and turn a pair of double plays.
"Another outstanding performance by Mike (Freeman), and with that being said, the defense our infielders played behind him and Gage Green's job behind the plate working with him continue to be part of that recipe," Holliday said. "When Mike pitches there's an abnormal amount of balls that are struck into the ground and struck with different rhythm and hops. Tim (Arakawa) was amazing at second base, Donovan (Walton) played exceptional at shortstop, Jacob (Chappell) was right there at third and Dustin Williams at first. You see balls hit in areas of the field that normally don't occur, and that's due to the sink on the ball and the late movement.
"Michael continues to be a rock, and you can't say enough about his presence on the mound and his ability to go out there... once again, he was pretty well in control."
OSU wasted no time giving Freeman a cushion on the scoreboard. In the first inning, the Cowboys plated a pair of unearned runs when KSU center fielder Max Brown dropped a fly ball, and they tallied three more in the second, two of those on a two-out single by Walton.
"On offense, we were dialed in right out of the chute, and we did a really good job in the first two innings against a very good competitor and accomplished pitcher (All-Big 12 right-hander Nate Griep)," Holliday said.
The Cowboys would go up 6-0 in the fourth, this time on a two-out, RBI double by Walton, before K-State managed its lone run in the bottom of the inning.
In that frame, the Wildcats collected three singles and a walk, but Freeman limited the damage to only one run as he induced Jake Wodtke to ground into an inning-ending double play after K-State had loaded the bases.
"I'm incredibly blessed to be a part of this team and to compete and do the things we do day-in and day-out," Freeman said. "I just really try and work down with everything and just continually get ground balls like that. And these guys are incredible - the plays that Tim made, that's just what he does every day. It's easy to pitch when you've got guys like that in the infield. It's really fun, and it really keeps me at ease trusting the guys behind me."
Arakawa added that it's equally gratifying to work defensively behind the lefty.
"When Mike is on the mound, you tend to stay engaged a lot more," Arakawa said. "He does a great job. The pace that he works at just keeps you in it every pitch. It's fun to play behind him."
OSU finished the contest with eight different Cowboys collecting hits, including four who had multi-hit efforts. Walton's three RBIs led the Pokes, while Corey Hassel drove in a pair of runs.
Michael Freeman led the Cowboys to victory against K-State (27-29) as the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year tossed his fourth complete game of the season to improve to 10-2. The senior southpaw allowed just six hits, all singles, and struck out seven.
OSU had plenty of offense behind their ace as coach Josh Holliday's ballclub collected 14 hits, led by three apiece from Donnie Walton and Tim Arakawa. That duo also played outstanding defense up the middle with Walton and shortstop and Arakawa at second base combining to record 13 ground ball outs and turn a pair of double plays.
"Another outstanding performance by Mike (Freeman), and with that being said, the defense our infielders played behind him and Gage Green's job behind the plate working with him continue to be part of that recipe," Holliday said. "When Mike pitches there's an abnormal amount of balls that are struck into the ground and struck with different rhythm and hops. Tim (Arakawa) was amazing at second base, Donovan (Walton) played exceptional at shortstop, Jacob (Chappell) was right there at third and Dustin Williams at first. You see balls hit in areas of the field that normally don't occur, and that's due to the sink on the ball and the late movement.
"Michael continues to be a rock, and you can't say enough about his presence on the mound and his ability to go out there... once again, he was pretty well in control."
OSU wasted no time giving Freeman a cushion on the scoreboard. In the first inning, the Cowboys plated a pair of unearned runs when KSU center fielder Max Brown dropped a fly ball, and they tallied three more in the second, two of those on a two-out single by Walton.
"On offense, we were dialed in right out of the chute, and we did a really good job in the first two innings against a very good competitor and accomplished pitcher (All-Big 12 right-hander Nate Griep)," Holliday said.
The Cowboys would go up 6-0 in the fourth, this time on a two-out, RBI double by Walton, before K-State managed its lone run in the bottom of the inning.
In that frame, the Wildcats collected three singles and a walk, but Freeman limited the damage to only one run as he induced Jake Wodtke to ground into an inning-ending double play after K-State had loaded the bases.
"I'm incredibly blessed to be a part of this team and to compete and do the things we do day-in and day-out," Freeman said. "I just really try and work down with everything and just continually get ground balls like that. And these guys are incredible - the plays that Tim made, that's just what he does every day. It's easy to pitch when you've got guys like that in the infield. It's really fun, and it really keeps me at ease trusting the guys behind me."
Arakawa added that it's equally gratifying to work defensively behind the lefty.
"When Mike is on the mound, you tend to stay engaged a lot more," Arakawa said. "He does a great job. The pace that he works at just keeps you in it every pitch. It's fun to play behind him."
OSU finished the contest with eight different Cowboys collecting hits, including four who had multi-hit efforts. Walton's three RBIs led the Pokes, while Corey Hassel drove in a pair of runs.
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Cowboy Baseball
LHP
/ Cowboy Baseball
OF/C
/ Cowboy Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Cowboy Baseball
INF
/ Cowboy Baseball
1B/OF
/ Cowboy BaseballCowgirl Equestrian Big 12 Champs! - Inside OSU Athletics with Larry Sanchez
Friday, April 03
Title Talk | Landon Robideau Breaks Down His NCAA Championship vs. Defending Champ Antrell Taylor
Tuesday, March 31
Title Talk | Sergio Vega Breaks Down His NCAA Championship Win vs. 2x Champ Jesse Mendez (141 lbs)
Monday, March 30
Jax Forrest called it a tad early 🗣️🏆 #wrestling
Friday, March 27
