OSU Baseball Tops Oral Roberts

Oklahoma State snapped a four-game losing streak against Oral Roberts as the 22nd-ranked Cowboys knocked off the Golden Eagles, 4-2, Tuesday night at ONEOK Field.

With the win, OSU improved to 23-8 heading into this weekend's series against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, which opens Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Jon Perrin, who got the start on the mound in place of an injured Randy McCurry, improved to 4-0 with a five-inning effort in which he allowed just one run on four hits while tying a career high with five strikeouts.

"Any time you have an injury, it's an opportunity for somebody else, and (Tuesday) Jon Perrin took that opportunity and pitched a very good ballgame," Holliday said. "He rolled in here and gave us five very good innings against a good ballclub."

The Cowboys gave Perrin an early lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single by Victor Romero, but ORU (9-22) tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a double by Jose Trevino.

However, OSU regained a lead it would never surrender in its next at bat with yet another two-out RBI, this one a double by Saulyer Saxon to put the Cowboys up 2-1.

OSU pushed its lead to 3-1 in the fourth. Craig McConaughy, making just his third start of the season, led off the inning with a double just inside the right field line, the first of his two hits on the night. Up next, Saxon laid down a bunt single, and an errant throw by ORU pitcher Phillip Wilson allowed McConaughy to score.

"I'm really proud of Craig McConaughy," Holliday said. "He works every day, he has not seen a lot of playing time, but to his credit, he was ready when he got his opportunity and was really a spark plug. Guys like that who are ready when they get their opportunities, it's what helps your team grow."

The Golden Eagles plated their final run in the sixth, getting a sacrifice fly by Nate Goro to make the score 3-2, but OSU added a key insurance run in the seventh when Zach Fish, who opened the frame with a single, scored on a wild pitch.

With a two-run lead, OSU closer Brendan McCurry was called on to seal the win, and the junior did just that as he worked the final two innings and needed just 13 pitches to collect his fifth save of the season.

Romero finished with a game-high three hits, his third multi-hit effort in the last four games, while Saxon and McConaughy added two apiece.

It was the first game against his former school for OSU assistant coach Rob Walton.  Walton coached at Oral Roberts for 14 years, including the past nine years as the Eagles' head-man.  He led ORU to the NCAA Tournament all nine seasons as head coach. 

With the loss, ORU lost its sixth straight game.