When Oklahoma State coach Josh Holliday walked into O’Brate Stadium Friday morning, in his mind, the environmental elements didn’t favor a home-run-heavy night.
Warm weather. A slight, yet noticeable breeze from the north, which often hinders the probability of pull-side homer for right-handed hitters — the majority of OSU’s lineup
“The park was interesting today,” Holliday said. “The ball really wasn’t carrying today during batting practice. So, I just didn’t think it would be much of a home run hitting night tonight, to be honest with you.”
Wrong.
The No. 19 Cowboys logged seven home runs on Friday night during a series-opening 16-4 win against Texas Tech.
The home run barrage began during the opening inning. Center fielder Zach Ehrhard launched a pitch from Texas Tech (30-21, 12-16 Big 12) starting pitcher Ryan Free on a line to left-center field for a solo homer. Two at-bats later, third baseman Aidan Meola hit one of his own to left field for a two-run shot, making the score 3-0.
That set up the dagger two innings later — an eight-run third inning to blow the game open. Four home runs. Five hits. And a multitude of quality at-bats.
“It was a pretty elite inning,” Holliday said. “Just the patience, consecutive quality at-bats up and down the lineup, all the hard-hit balls. It was literally like a nine-man line that just kept passing it on.”
It started with a hit by pitch from left fielder Nolan Schubart. Then another from Meola. Then came an RBI-double off the right field wall from first baseman Colin Brueggemann, whose slide into second base drew an emphatic roar from the home dugout.
And on the ensuing at-bat, catcher Ian Daugherty sat on a hanging slider from Free for a three-run bomb. Shortstop Lane Forsythe, third baseman Tyler Wulfert and two-way star Carson Benge followed suit for OSU’s (33-16, 16-9 Big 12) single-inning run total of the season.
“It’s a lot of fun to see something like that,” Wulfert said. “So, hopefully, we just keep doing it.
“It’s really cool to see the offense clicking like that right now”
Left-hander Sam Garcia complemented the offensive productivity with his fifth-quality start of the season, striking out 10 through 7.0 innings while surrendering just five hits, two walks and one earned run. The lone blemish came on a solo home run from Texas Tech third baseman Cade McGee in the fifth inning.
“That lead in the third inning kind of makes it a lot easier; I don’t have to make as many pressure pitches,” Garcia said. “The energy fuels the dugout. Getting those eight runs in that (third) inning. I mean, I feed off it. I’m just a big guy that feeds off energy.”
Brueggemann’s eight-inning grand slam finalized the scoring and ultimately another collective outing from OSU down the final stretch of the regular season.
Holliday’s group knows what lies ahead. A series win is paramount for the longevity of things, particularly heading into postseason play.
The aforementioned gloomy pregame ballpark conditions ended up being a footnote, rather a satirical statement from Holliday postgame.
But two games remain to be played on the weekend. Now, Holliday hopes his group can carry Friday’s momentum through the ensuing days.
“Job well done, great team effort; stay focused on what you do,” Holliday said. “The opponent just can’t really be part of your formula. You have to stay within yourself.”
