Oklahoma State Clinches Series Win Over Arizona Behind 6 Run Fourth Inning, Stormy Rhodes’ Gritty Start
STILLWATER, Okla. — The OSU baseballers closed the regular season Saturday afternoon, beating the Arizona Wildcats behind a six-run fourth inning and another gritty start from Stormy Rhodes to beat Arizona 7-5 and win the series.
OSU finished the regular season 36-19 overall and 18-12 in the Big 12, and will finish 5th thanks to a walkoff win on Saturday for UCF over KState.
OSU hit three home runs, one by Colin Brueggemann to get the offense going, another by Freshman Remo Indemenico to flip the scoreboard, and then one by Aidan Meola to cap the 4-run 6th inning.
Early Innings: Arizona Applies Pressure Against Rhodes
Arizona threatened in the top of the first inning and did a good job jumping on Rhodes early, until he settled in later and threw his best innings of the day in the 6th and 7th.
OSU got the lead first, which is important because teams that score first typically win over 70% of the time.
Brock Thompson worked, then after a wild pitch, Aidan Meola lined an RBI single to left field to give the Cowboys a 1-0 lead. Meola finished the season hitting .317 with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs.
Arizona tied the game in the second inning after Mathis Meurant reached on a bunt single and later scored on TJ Adams’ RBI single to left-center.
The Wildcats then took the lead in the third. Andrew Cain opened the inning with a single, then a double, before Maddox Mihalakis hit a sac fly to score a run, then Dom Rodriguez followed with another sacrifice fly to give Arizona a 3-1 lead.
Fourth Inning Changes Everything
In response, response being a key term in the OSU clubhouse, Colin Brueggemann hit his 16th home run on a great at-bat to start the 4th to bring OSU within 3-2. Brueggy got down 0-2, laid off a backfoot slider, fouled off a pitch up in the zone, then went gap band over the right field wall.
One batter later, Garrett Shull worked a walk, then Freshman Remo hit his first home run of the season to flip the scoreboard in favor of the Pokes for the final time. He ambushed a first-pitch fastball, and when it showed up, he didn’t miss it, and by the time he made his way around the bases, OSU now had the lead 4-3.
Aidan Meola then delivered the knockout blow on a 3-run shot that is reported to have landed somewhere in Boomer Lake after Alex Conover walked and Kollin Ritchie singled. Meola was the DH today because that’s about all his body will allow him to do at the moment. Dude is a WARRIOR!
OSU finished the regular season with 137 home runs…WOW!
Holliday Praises Offensive Response
Following the win, head coach Josh Holliday credited the maturity and resilience of his club after falling behind early.
“Our guys stayed composed,” Holliday said. “Nobody panicked. We kept taking good at-bats, and eventually a couple of swings changed the game.”
“This lineup has power throughout it, but what I liked most was the quality of the at-bats leading into those big swings.”
Holliday also praised the consistency the offense has shown entering postseason play.
“We’re starting to play cleaner baseball offensively. We’re getting contributions up and down the lineup, and that’s what you need this time of year.”
The Cowboys scored 20 runs over the final two games against Arizona.
Stormy Rhodes Battles Through Seven Strong Innings
Rhodes was vulnerable early, but, as he always does, he bent but didn’t break, then recovered and threw his best two innings in his last two, the 6th and the 7th. In fact, he retired 6 of the last 7 hitters he faced.
He worked seven innings, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking JUST one. Though Rhodes gave up some hits early, he continued to execute and got weak contact in BIG situations. Not every time, but enough to give his team a quality start and put them in position to win the game. Which they did!
His final line:
7.0 innings pitched, 8 hits, 5 earned runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts on 101 pitches.
Bullpen Slams the Door
Noah Wech and Mario Pesca got “back in the saddle,” if you will, getting a second chance to close a game against Arizona.
NWech handled the eighth inning, going scoreless after giving up a leadoff double, then Mario knocked down the 9th fairly routinely and stress-free. Although the last fly ball to end the game did have some suspense to it, because if it had left the yard, it would have tied the game. Ritchie pulled up just shy of the warning track and put it and the Cats away for good.
Meola, Brueggemann, and Ritchie Lead Offensive Surge
Several Cowboy hitters continued outstanding seasons Saturday.
Meola finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a three-run homer, Ritchie went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored. Ritchie closed the regular season with a .340 average, 29 home runs, and 72 RBIs. WOW…WOW!
Colin Brueggemann hit his 16th long ball of the year, and Remo Indomenico hit his first.
Conover added a hit, a walk and a stolen base, while Thompson scored twice despite not getting a knock.
Cowboys Carry Momentum Into Big 12 Tournament
With the win, Oklahoma State closed the regular season at 36-19 overall and 18-12 in Big 12 play, finishing fifth.
