Cowboys Claim Series With Doubleheader Sweep

Sunday, March 12

Stillwater, OK

1:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

8-6

South Dakota State

6-6

South Dakota State

Oklahoma State

Garrett McCain

Photo by: Greg Bullard

March 12, 2017 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State won its second three-game series of the season Sunday by sweeping a doubleheader against South Dakota State at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

The 18^th-ranked Cowboys picked up a 6-3 victory in the opener before an 8-3 triumph in the nightcap as OSU improved to 9-6 on the season.

On the mound, nine OSU pitchers combined for 28 strikeouts over the two games, with Jensen Elliott and Carson Teel picking up wins.

Offensively, the Cowboys collected 11 hits in each contest, with Garrett McCain having a big day at the plate as the junior outfielder went 6-for-9 with a triple, home run and four RBIs.

In the opener, South Dakota State (6-7) took an early lead by collecting three hits and an unearned run off Elliott in their first at bat.

But in the bottom of the inning, OSU answered with a pair of runs to take the lead. Ryan Cash opened the frame with a walk, and McCain's RBI triple tied the score at 1-1. McCain would later score on a wild pitch to give the Cowboys the lead.

OSU pushed its lead to 4-1 over the next three innings. In the third, Andrew Rosa picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice and Garrett Benge's bases-loaded walk in the fourth extended the lead to three.

Elliott worked six strong innings, allowing three runs – just one of them earned – and striking out seven to improve to 3-0; he has now recorded at least six strikeouts in each of his four starts this season.

The Jackrabbits would make things interesting late in the game, plating a pair of runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3 before OSU answered with runs in the seventh and eighth innings, on an RBI double by Jon Littell and a sacrifice fly by Colin Simpson to extend the lead back to three.

Blake Battenfield would come on in relief of Elliott in the seventh and work three stout innings for his third save as he allowed just one hit and struck out three.

In the nightcap, OSU had several young players make big contributions in the win as nine freshmen saw action for the Cowboys.

One of those, starting pitcher Parker Scott, threw just six pitches before an apparent injury took him out of the game in the first inning.

However, Teel came out of the bullpen and turned in clutch performance. After an error and a single gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead and loaded the bases with no outs, Teel struck out the next three batters to avoid further damage.

OSU tied the score quickly in the bottom of the first, with McCain blasting a solo home run to left field; the blast was his second homer of the year.

The Cowboys rallied for three runs to take a lead they never surrendered in the second. Trevor Boone mashed the first home run of his collegiate career to get the scoring started, and later in the inning, fellow frosh Cade Cabbiness, who had previously singled, scored on an error before a two-out RBI hit by McCain made the score 3-1.

Teel worked just two innings but struck out five to earn his second win of the week in relief and improve to 2-1 on the season. Freshman Brady Basso followed him and was also dominant, striking out five over two frames and allowing only one hit.

OSU pushed across two more runs in the fifth to go up 6-1 as Cameron Dobbs collected an RBI single before McCain added to his big day with an RBI walk.

The Jacks trimmed their deficit in half on a two-run homer by Matt Johnson in the eighth, but OSU answered with a two spot in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Simpson and RBI triple by Dustin Williams.

OSU continues its 10-game homestand Tuesday when they open a two-game midweek series with New Mexico. Both Tuesday's and Wednesday's games are scheduled for 4 p.m. starts.