How Oklahoma State baseball boosted its Big 12 standing with series win over TCU
It wasn’t a sweep, but the Oklahoma State baseball team added a Big 12 series win to its resume during the past weekend.
Overcoming a series-opening shutout loss, the Cowboys defeated TCU twice at O’Brate Stadium and boosted their conference win percentage to .500 through six games.
Early in the week, the Cowboys showed off their power-hitting skills. Aidan Meola, Kollin Ritchie, Ian Daugherty and Nolan Schubart each had a home run as OSU pummeled nonconference opponent Missouri State, 13-4, on Tuesday at home.
The Cowboys’ recent inconsistencies resurfaced when they fell to TCU, 1-0, on Friday. OSU outhit the Horned Frogs, 5-2, but failed to plate a run.
The Cowboys bounced back with 6-2 and 6-3 wins against then-18th-ranked TCU. The weekend hinted at an optimistic future for OSU’s pitching staff as Brian Holiday continued to thrive and Tommy Molsky earned the win in Sunday’s rubber match.
The Horned Frogs (17-7, 2-7) occupy last place in the Big 12.
Here’s a closer look at OSU’s past week:
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OSU
Overall record: 15-9, 3-3 (fifth)
Last week: 3-1 (beat Missouri State 13-4; lost to TCU 1-0; beat TCU 6-2, 6-3)
This week: at Wichita State, 6 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+); at West Virginia, 5:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN+), 3 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+), noon Sunday (ESPN+)
Top player last week
Zach Ehrhard, OF: Ehrhard went 8 for 14 at the plate with three RBIs, two doubles and a stolen base. The junior from Tampa, Florida, saved his most efficient game for last, hitting 4 for 4 in OSU’s series finale against TCU. Even when he isn’t in the starting lineup, the Cowboys depend on Ehrhard as a pinch hitter. He has been splitting time in center field with Jaxson Crull, a senior from Bixby.
Player on the rise
Tommy Molsky, RHP: Molsky, a junior transfer from Penn State, changed the game for the Cowboys on Sunday. OSU faced a 2-1 deficit when he stepped onto the mound in the top of the third inning after a weather delay, but Molsky squelched the Frogs’ offense, striking out the side. He threw seven strikeouts and allowed no hits or runs through four innings, earning his third win of the season.
Stat to know
14 strikeouts: Starting pitcher Brian Holiday recorded a career-best 14 strikeouts in OSU’s 6-2 victory over TCU on Saturday. Holiday, who gave up two runs on four hits, is the first OSU pitcher to earn a complete game this season. No Cowboy had pitched a complete game since Justin Campbell in 2022.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State baseball boosts Big 12 standing with series win vs TCU
