Oklahoma State beats Arkansas, 5-4

Pokes' fans were given a treat Tuesday night as the 18th ranked Cowboys defeated the 15th ranked Arkansas Hogs 5-4 in a non-conference midweek matchup. With the win the Pokes improve to 18-7 (3-0) and extend their win streak to five. The Hogs drop to 18-7 (3-3) following the loss.

Jacob Chappell's run-scoring GIDP in the seventh proved to be the difference as it gave the Pokes a 4-3 lead that they never relinquished. The Hogs didn't go down without a fight, however. Arkansas placed the tying run on second with just one out in the final frame but a strikeout and groundout by the next two batters secured the win for the Cowboys and a fourth save for Tyler Buffett. Remey Reid earned his third win of the year by blanking the Hogs in his three innings of relief.

Collin Theroux tied the game at three with a towering three-run blast in the second after the Hogs tagged Pokes' starter Michael Mertz for three of their own in the top half of the inning. The Pokes took the lead in the seventh and added much needed insurance in the eighth on a double-steal pulled off by Andrew Rosa and Ryan Sluder. Rosa drew the throw from the Hogs catcher as he took off to second and Sluder raced home to barely beat the toss back from the second baseman. The cushion proved crucial for Cowboys as the Hogs plated a run in the ninth but it wasn't enough as the Cowboys took home the 5-4 victory.

The Pokes will return to Big 12 action this weekend as they travel to West Virginia 12-9 (2-3 for a three-game set.