Huskers Drop Big 12 Series to Cowboys

Stillwater, Okla. -- Oklahoma State scored eight runs on 10 hits and Nebraska stranded 11 base runners as the Cowboys handed Nebraska its worst loss of the season, 8-2, in the series finale at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Sunday.

Oklahoma State used a triple from Nebasset Brown and an RBI double from Toby Rhodes to break a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning. OSU extended its lead to 3-1 after a sacrifice fly in the same inning scored Luke Scott. The Huskers, who stranded seven baserunners through the first four innings, tied the game in the fourth inning off a solo home run from senior Justin Cowan, his third of the year.

Scott added a solo home run in the fifth inning for OSU and the Cowboys scored four more runs in the seventh off three hits and two Husker errors.

Nebraska's Chad Wiles was charged with the loss after giving up six hits and four runs in five innings. Wiles struck out four, but walked three in his first loss of the season. Josh Merrigan improved to 3-1 after scattering seven hits through seven innings. He had six strikeouts and allowed just one run.

Nebraska's only other run came in the top of the ninth on a John Cole RBI single scored Adam Stern.

Nebraska, which has not won a series from OSU in Stillwater since 1970, fell to 7-5 and 1-2 in the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma State improved to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12.