Oklahoma State Baseball: Cowboys drop series with Iowa

The Cowboys suffered their first series defeat at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes this weekend. After a win in game one of Friday’s double header, the Cowboys were unable to get wins in game two Friday evening or game three on Saturday.

Game 1- Friday, March 1

A walk-off RBI from Hueston Morrill secured the 5-4 victory for the Cowboys in game one of the series. Morrill had a pretty good game at the plate overall with three hits. The weather made it really hard for anyone to hit a home run as no one hit it out of the park. The Cowboys got the scoring started in the second with Cade Cabbiness doubling to right center to advance Bryce Carter and bring in Christian Funk for a unearned run. Carter would score later in the inning on a grounded out RBI from Alix Garcia. Iowa would tie it up in the fifth with two singles to bring in runs for the Hawkeyes. In the sixth the Pokes would go up a run on a fly out fromCarson McCusker to bring in Colin Simpson. The Hawkeyes would tie it up again in the eight on a single down the right field on. The Hawkeyes did get double the amount of hits the Cowboys did with 12. The Cowboys were just able to capitalize on the hits better and score one more run.

Joe Lienhard got the win and move to 1-1 on the season after coming in to relieve and pitching an inning with no runs and a hit and a strikeout. Starter Jensen Elliott pitched five innings with eight hits two run a walk and three strikeout.

Game 2- Friday, March 1

Basically, take the day’s first game and flip it to where Iowa wins 5-4. That’s what happened on Friday evening. Hueston Morrill and Bryce Carter were the only Cowboys to get multiple hits with two each. Carson McCusker helped his team with two RBIs. Colin Simpson and Morrill would bring in the Cowboys other two runs. The Hawkeyes would score two in the third on a double. Iowa’s Austin Martin hit a solo home run in fourth another run would score on a walk in the eight and that would seal the deal for the Hawkeyes.

Cowboy starter Logan Gragg struggled as he gave up four runs (all earned), six hits and a walk in the four innings he pitched. Peyton Battenfield took the loss and moves to 2-1 after two hits, a run and a walk in his 3 and ¹⁄₃ innings. They combined for 12 strikeouts.

Game 3- Saturday, March 2

The Cowboys and Hawkeyes were caught up in a defensive battle on Saturday that went in favor of the Hawkeyes 3-2. The Cowboys had just four hits total as a team, all thanks to Simpson, McCusker, Cabbiness and pitcher Noah Sifrit. Simpson added an RBI to that. McCusker brought in the other one on a fly out. The Hawkeyes would score on a wild pitch and two separate RBIs.

Starter Mitchell Stone pitched seven innings with two hits, a run and a walk. Stone would end his time on the mound with four strikeouts. Jake Lyons would take the loss after pitching one and ²⁄₃ innings with two hits, two runs and two walks.

Next up the Cowboys will take on Wichita State on Tuesday at Allie P.