Wright Powers Oklahoma State Past Nebraska

Stillwater, Okla. ? Ty Wright went 3-for-5 with a pair of homers, powering No. 21 Oklahoma State to a 7-4 victory over No. 22 Nebraska at Reynolds Stadium Saturday evening

Wright, who drove in four runs and scored three times, connected on a pair of two-run homers in the first and fifth innings, as Oklahoma State (30-15, 13-5) won for the sixth time in the last seven games to remain percentage points behind league-leader Texas, which was victorious over Kansas earlier today in Austin.

While Wright provides most of the Cowboy firepower, OSU left-hander Thomas Cowley (4-2) held the Husker bats in check, allowing two runs on four hits and fanning 10 in seven-plus innings of work.

Alex Gordon posted his team-high 20th multi-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, as Nebraska dipped to 30-15 overall and 9-10 in the Big 12. Daniel Bruce also had two hits and an RBI, while Colin Shockey added a two-run double to account for Nebraska’s offense.

The Huskers, who had won 11 of the past 12 meetings with OSU dating back to the 2000 season, struck in the top of the first on Gordon’s RBI single. Shockey drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a ground out before Gordon slapped a single between first and second to score Shockey.

The Cowboys regained the lead in the bottom of the first on Wright’s first homer, a two-run shot off to left off Nebraska starter Zach Kroenke, only the third homer allowed by the Husker southpaw this season. Rusty Ryal, who had two hits and scored twice, opened the inning with a single before coming home on Wright’s fourth round tripper of the season.

Bruce tied the score at 2-all in the top of the second with an RBI double to right center, scoring Jesse Boyer, who drew a one-out walk, but Cowley settled down and didn’t allow another run before exiting in the eighth.

Oklahoma State rallied in the fifth with getting four consecutive two-out hits. Rod Allen doubled to open the inning before Ryal’s RBI single to left three batters later put OSU ahead for good. Wright then increased the margin to 5-2 with his second two-run blast of the game, marking the first time Kroenke had allowed more than one homer in 27 career appearances

OSU extended the lead to 7-2 on Scott Kirby’s two-run single off reliever Quinton Robertson in the seventh, as the Cowboys loaded the bases before Kirby’s base hit gave OSU a five-run lead.

Kroenke (7-2) allowed seven runs on 10 hits in 6.2 innings to take the loss. The left-hander walked three and struck out two, as the two homers he allowed tonight doubled the total he had allowed all season.

The Huskers rallied in the ninth, as Shockey’s two-run double to right scored John Grose, who reached on an error, and Bruce, who singled with one out, for the final margin.

The series continues Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. as junior right-hander Phil Shirek (5-1, 3.35 ERA) is opposed by OSU southpaw Spencer Grogan (10-1, 2.77 ERA)

The Automated ScoreBook #22 Nebraska at #21 Oklahoma State May 08, 2004 at Stillwater, Okla. (Reynolds Stadium)

Nebraska 4 (30-15,9-10 BIG 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Shockey, Colin cf........ 4 1 1 2 1 1 3 0 0 Simokaitis, Joe ss....... 4 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 1 Gordon, Alex 3b.......... 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 Ledbetter, Curtis 1b..... 3 0 0 0 1 1 10 1 0 Mullinax, Jake 2b........ 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 4 Grose, John c............ 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 Boyer, Jesse lf.......... 3 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 Bruce, Daniel rf......... 4 1 2 1 0 2 4 0 0 Bowden, Johnny dh........ 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 Sullivan, Beau ph....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Kroenke, Zach p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Robertson, Quinton p.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Furnish, Brad p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 34 4 7 4 4 12 24 13 7

Oklahoma State 7 (30-15,13-5 BIG 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Ryal, Rusty 2b........... 5 2 2 1 0 0 2 4 0 Wright, Ty dh............ 5 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 Fields, Josh 3b.......... 3 1 2 0 1 0 2 3 0 Jaramillo, Jason c....... 3 0 1 0 1 0 12 1 0 Kirby, Scott lf.......... 4 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 2 Matulich, Mario 1b....... 4 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 Allen, Rod rf............ 2 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 Gutierrez, Chris ss...... 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 Simon, Keanon cf......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 Cowley, Thomas p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Richmond, Scott p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 33 7 11 7 5 2 27 8 7

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 110 000 002 - 4 7 0 Oklahoma State...... 200 030 20X - 7 11 1 -------------------------------------------

E - Simon(6). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Huskers 7; Cowboys 7. 2B - Shockey, C.(11); Gordon, A.(17); Bruce, D.(6); Allen(7). 3B - Kirby(5). HR - Wright 2(5). SB - Gordon, A.(10); Wright(9). CS - Bruce, D.(1); Allen(2).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Kroenke, Zach....... 6.1 10 7 7 3 2 27 30 107 Robertson, Quinton.. 0.2 1 0 0 2 0 3 5 19 Furnish, Brad....... 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 13

Oklahoma State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Cowley, Thomas...... 7.1 4 2 2 4 10 25 29 140 Richmond, Scott..... 1.2 3 2 0 0 2 9 9 37

Win - Cowley (4-2). Loss - Kroenke, Z. (7-2). Save - None. WP - Kroenke, Z.(7); Cowley(3). Inherited runners/scored: Robertson, Q 2/2; Richmond 1/0. Pitches/strikes: Kroenke, Z. 107/62; Robertson, Q 19/11; Furnish, B. 13/9; Cowley 140/81; Richmond 37/27. Umpires - HP: Randy Wetzel 1B: Thomas Freese 3B: Curtis Alexander Start: 7p.m. Time: 2:46 Attendance: 3513 Game: NU45