Cowboys Take 2 of 3 in the Desert
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Cowboy baseballers walked out of the desert with one of its most impressive conference series victories of the season after taking two of three games from the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Cowboys opened the weekend with a dramatic 9-6 comeback victory Friday night before erupting for seven home runs in a 13-6 win Saturday to clinch the series. Arizona State salvaged the finale Sunday with an 11-7 victory behind a historic power display from Dominic Smaldino.
Oklahoma State left the weekend at 33-18 overall and 16-11 in Big 12 play, and will enter the final weekend against Arizona in 5th place, just one game behind both UCF and Arizona State. Arizona State improved to 34-17 overall and 17-10 in conference play following Sunday’s finale.
The series showcased nearly every identity Oklahoma State has developed during the second half of the season: elite offensive firepower, lineup depth, late-game resilience, bullpen versatility, and, at times, frustrating inconsistency on the mound and defensively.
Still, the biggest takeaway from the weekend was simple, and that is that Oklahoma State’s offense has become one of the most dangerous units in college baseball at exactly the right time.
Friday Night: Cowboys Stun Arizona State With Six-Run Ninth Inning
Friday night looked lost entering the ninth inning.
Oklahoma State trailed 6-3 after Arizona State scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Cowboys had managed only three runs through eight frames while striking out repeatedly against Sun Devils starter Cole Carlon.
Then everything changed.
The ninth inning became one of Oklahoma State’s most dramatic rallies of the season.
After Garrett Shull struck out to begin the inning, Colin Brueggemann doubled to left field to ignite the comeback. Pinch runner Brady Francisco advanced to third on a wild pitch before Avery Ortiz reached on when Roellig tried to throw the ball home and hit Francisco.
Alex Conover followed with a single, and Brock Thompson delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6-5.
Arizona State intentionally walked Kollin Ritchie, attempting to create a force play.
Instead, it set up the decisive sequence.
Aidan Meola ripped a game-tying RBI double off the left field wall before Campbell Smithwick delivered the knockout punch, which was a towering 417-foot, three-run homer to deep center field that suddenly gave Oklahoma State a stunning 9-6 lead.
The dugout exploded.
What had been a frustrating offensive night instantly became one of the defining wins of Oklahoma State’s season.
Mario Pesca closed the door in the bottom of the ninth, stranding two runners and securing his first save of the season.
Ethan Lund Settles In After Rough Opening
Friday’s comeback overshadowed an important outing from Oklahoma State starter Ethan Lund.
The left-hander had to endure 1st inning defensive issues on balls in the air, a two-run triple to right field from Dominic Smaldino, and a Matt Polk RBI single to put the Cowboys in an early 3-1 hole.
But Lund fought through ALL of that, then stabilized.
The talented Sophomore starter delivered five innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits, striking out six and walking two over 100 pitches. Most importantly, he prevented the game from spiraling while Oklahoma State’s offense searched for answers.
Lund retired nine of the final 11 hitters he faced and helped keep the game tied at 3-3 through the middle innings.
Kai Fyke followed with a clean sixth inning before Hudson Barrett worked through traffic in the seventh and eighth innings. Barrett allowed three runs in the eighth as Arizona State briefly reclaimed momentum, but Oklahoma State’s offense erased the damage moments later.
Pesca’s ninth inning again highlighted the increasingly important role he has carved out late in games.
Josh Holliday Praises Team’s Resilience After Game 1
Following Friday’s comeback victory, Oklahoma State head coach Josh Holliday praised the toughness and maturity his team showed during the final inning.
“Our guys just kept competing. Nobody panicked in the dugout. They stayed locked in, kept taking quality at-bats, and eventually broke through.”
Holliday also pointed toward the belief developing inside the clubhouse as the postseason approaches.
“This team has confidence right now. They trust each other, and they believe they’re never out of a game.”
Saturday Night: Seven Home Runs Power Oklahoma State to Series Win
If Friday showcased Oklahoma State’s toughness, Saturday showcased its substantial offensive ceiling.
The Cowboys demolished Arizona State pitching for seven home runs in a 13-6 victory that clinched the series and further established Oklahoma State as one of the hottest offensive teams in the Big 12.
Arizona State briefly grabbed momentum early behind another dominant performance from Smaldino, who homered twice against Oklahoma State starter Stormy Rhodes.
After Brock Thompson’s two-run double gave Oklahoma State a 2-1 lead in the third inning, Smaldino answered immediately with a two-run homer to restore Arizona State’s advantage at 3-2.
Then came the fourth inning avalanche.
Colin Brueggemann launched a 423-foot two-run homer to center field. Alex Conover followed with a solo shot to right. Thompson added another homer moments later before Aidan Meola capped the inning with a two-run blast to left field.
In one inning, Oklahoma State hit four home runs and turned a one-run deficit into an 8-3 lead.
The Cowboys never looked back.
Danny Wallace added a solo homer in the eighth inning before Brueggemann and Conover each homered again in the ninth to complete the seven-homer barrage.
Oklahoma State finished with 14 hits, 13 runs, and 13 RBIs while overwhelming Arizona State’s pitching staff from top to bottom.
Offensive Stars Continue Red-Hot Stretch
The middle of Oklahoma State’s lineup was nearly unstoppable throughout the weekend.
Brueggemann delivered one of the best games of his season Saturday, finishing 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored, raising his season home run total to 14.
Conover went 2-for-4 with two homers and three runs scored Saturday after recording two hits and scoring twice Friday. He added another home run Sunday, giving him three homers during the series and 11 on the year.
Meola continued his breakout offensive stretch all weekend. The Oklahoma State third baseman homered in Games 2 and 3 and consistently produced key extra-base hits. He now sits at 16 home runs for the season.
Ritchie continued to make a major impact, although not getting a ton of hits. The center fielder delivered a massive three-run homer Sunday, which was his 27th homer of the season, but it was the repeated pressure he put on the Arizona State pitching throughout the weekend that stole the show.
Smithwick’s Friday night game-winning homer remained one of the biggest swings of the entire season and highlighted the incredible depth Oklahoma State now possesses offensively.
Over the final two games of the series, Oklahoma State hit 11 total home runs.
The Cowboys continue trending upward offensively entering postseason play, particularly in power production. Even when strikeouts pile up, Oklahoma State’s ability to instantly change games with one swing has become overwhelming for opposing pitching staffs.
Stormy Rhodes Battles Through Heavy Traffic
Saturday starter Stormy Rhodes delivered a gritty outing despite constant pressure from Arizona State’s lineup. Which, if you read the opponent preview, was no surprise.
The Sun Devils collected 10 hits against Rhodes in five innings, but the talented right-hander limited the damage to three runs while repeatedly escaping jams.
Arizona State loaded the bases in the first inning before Rhodes got a pop-up, then served up a double-play ball to escape.
Rhodes later stranded runners in scoring position in both the second and fifth innings while continuing to attack the strike zone.
Though not overpowering, his ability to limit damage allowed Oklahoma State’s offense enough time to take over the game.
Kai Fyke added a scoreless sixth inning before Noah Wech worked through trouble in the seventh and eighth innings. Pesca again closed the game cleanly in the ninth.
Game 3: Smaldino Takes Over Sunday Finale
Sunday’s series finale belonged almost entirely to Arizona State slugger Dominic Smaldino.
The Sun Devils’ first baseman produced one of the most dominant individual performances Oklahoma State has faced all season, finishing 3-for-5 with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Smaldino completely changed the game during Arizona State’s five-run third inning.
After Oklahoma State tied the game 1-1 on Alex Conover’s solo homer in the top of the inning, defensive mistakes immediately hurt the Cowboys in the bottom half.
An error from Aidan Meola extended the inning before a passed ball allowed Arizona State to take the lead. Moments later, Smaldino crushed a three-run homer to left field before Ky McGary followed with a solo shot to right field.
Suddenly, Oklahoma State trailed 6-1.
Smaldino struck again in the fifth inning with a towering 434-foot two-run homer to center field that extended Arizona State’s lead to 8-1.
Even after Sebastian Norman’s two-run homer briefly gave Oklahoma State momentum in the sixth inning, Smaldino answered again in the eighth with his third homer of the game — a two-run blast that effectively ended the comeback hopes.
Oklahoma State starter Brennan Phillips allowed eight runs — six earned — over five innings while defensive mistakes behind him proved costly.
The Cowboys committed two errors and also allowed a passed ball during Arizona State’s massive third inning.
Still, Oklahoma State continued fighting late.
Ritchie’s three-run homer and Meola’s solo blast in the ninth cut the deficit to four runs, but the comeback came too late.
Holliday Emphasizes Growth of Team Identity
Following the series-clinching victory Saturday, Holliday praised the offensive identity Oklahoma State has developed entering the final weeks of the season.
“Our lineup is dangerous right now. Different guys are stepping up every night, and they’re playing with confidence and freedom.”
Holliday also emphasized how much the team has matured during conference play.
“The biggest thing is they’re learning how to win tough games,” Holliday said. “That matters this time of year.”
Looking Ahead
Oklahoma State now returns home for its final Conference series with Arizona. The Cats have struggled, but they are very dangerous, and it will be a homecoming for Beau Sylvester, who played for OSU over the last two years.
The Cowboys will enter in 5th place in the Big 12 with a 16-11 league mark and hope to continue building momentum offensively at one of the most important points of the season.
Arizona State, meanwhile, remains one of the league’s most dangerous offensive teams, particularly with Smaldino swinging at an elite level.
After combining for 40 runs and 18 home runs during the weekend series, both teams left Phoenix looking like legitimate postseason threats capable of explosive offensive performances against any pitching staff in the country.
