Cowboys Outduel Mountaineers in the Series Opener

Oklahoma State pitching silences West Virginia's bats in game one

Oklahoma State junior first baseman Colin Brueggemann celebrates with teammate freshman Avery Ortiz after hitting a solo home run in the top of the second inning. | Christopher Hall

Granville, WV – West Virginia junior Aidan Major (3-2) threw a career-high 13 strikeouts and allowed just two runs run but picked up his second loss of the season while Oklahoma State senior Sam Garcia gave up one run and had 11 strikeouts for his third win of the season as the Cowboys (17-9, 4-3) grabbed the series opener 2-1 over Mountaineers (15-11, 4-3).

“They’re in the top 10 in pitching in the nation in pitching for a reason, and if we’re going to win games, we have to beat good pitchers just like they did tonight,” said West Virginia head coach Randy Mazey.

Oklahoma State junior first baseman Colin Brueggemann put the Cowboys on the board in the top of the second inning, smacking an opposite field home run for the 1-0 lead.

“It was one of the only mistakes Maj’ made the whole night, and that’s why they are who they are,” said Mazey.

Sophomore Carson Benge delivered a one-out double into leftfield, then with two outs, junior Zach Ehrhard doubled down the left field line for his 14th RBI of the season as the Cowboys took a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh and with two outs, West Virginia junior Grant Hussey drove the 3-2 pitch 414 feet for a solo home run over the Mountaineers bullpen to cut the deficit to one, 2-1.

Aidan Major went eight innings in his career night and got stronger as the evening continued, despite throwing a career-high 124 pitches.

West Virginia junior Aidan Major delivers the pitch in game one against Oklahoma State. | Christopher Hall

“That was the bright spot of the day,” Mazey said. “[We] haven’t even reached the halfway point of the season and wanted to make sure that he’s going to be our guy on the mound, and he proved that tonight.”

West Virginia had the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the eight with one out and a man at first and Oklahoma State head coach Josh Holiday moved right fielder Carson Benge to the mound. Benge struck out one before a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, but the sophomore ended the threat with his second strikeout of the night.