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Oklahoma State baseball rewind: Cowboys have chance to win Big 12 championship in Bedlam

jacob unruh, oklahoman
·4 min read
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STILLWATER — With three games left on the schedule, Oklahoma State is two games out of first place in the Big 12.

And to get that regular-season title, the Cowboys will need a huge weekend in the biggest rivalry series of the spring.

Bedlam.

“It’s always fun to play games that are meaningful,” OSU baseball coach Josh Holliday told reporters following Sunday’s seven-inning 12-2 rout of Kansas State.

The Cowboys are in the thick of games with high stakes.

They took the final two games of the series with the Wildcats over the weekend with an offensive onslaught that allowed them to take sole possession of second place just behind West Virginia.

That means OSU could win the Big 12 regular-season title for the first time since 2014. OSU has finished second five times under Holliday, including last season.

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OSU would need to sweep Bedlam and West Virginia would need to lose all three games against Texas for the Cowboys to get to the outright championship.

To get at least a share of the title with the Mountaineers, OSU needs to sweep OU and West Virginia lose two of three at Texas. Or the Cowboys could just win the series over the Sooners and Texas sweep West Virginia.

If both OSU and West Virginia finish tied in the standings, the Mountaineers get the top seed in next week’s Big 12 Tournament due to winning the regular season series.

So, a lot is on the line this weekend.

Just don’t expect OSU to approach the series in Norman any differently.

“We’re not trying to hype that up,” Holliday said. “They’re important baseball games. They should be played well. We’ll keep a good mindset heading into it.”

Here is a look back at the week:

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No. 22 Oklahoma State

Overall record: 35-15, 13-8 Big 12 (second)

Last week: 2-1 (lost to Kansas State 10-9, beat Kansas State 19-5, 12-2 (7))

This week: at OU 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday

Oklahoma State catcher Chase Adkison (33) bunts during a college baseball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Baylor Bears at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Oklahoma State catcher Chase Adkison (33) bunts during a college baseball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Baylor Bears at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Top Oklahoma State player last week

Chase Adkison, C: Need a pick for the Cowboys’ MVP this season? Adkison is arguably the most deserving player. The junior has played and started in 45 games and has posted career bests in nearly every offensive category. He’s hit .478 since April 15. Over the weekend, Adkison was 7 for 11 with eight RBIs, six runs, a triple, a homer and a walk in the cleanup spot. He also threw out 2 of 3 runners attempting to steal.

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OSU's Carson Benge (3) runs to third base during the Cowboys' 19-8 win against OU on April 18 at O'Brate Stadium in Stillwater.
OSU's Carson Benge (3) runs to third base during the Cowboys' 19-8 win against OU on April 18 at O'Brate Stadium in Stillwater.

Oklahoma State player on the rise

Carson Benge, OF/RHP: Last week, the Cowboys welcomed back two-way star Nolan McLean. This weekend, another two-way star had one of his better series. Benge, a Yukon graduate, threw five innings on Sunday and allowed just two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four. It was his second straight start to go at least five innings, a tremendous sign for a player in his first full season following Tommy John surgery. Benge also doubled three times at the plate.

Stat to know

14: Runs per game the last two weekends for the Cowboys, who have outscored East Tennessee State and Kansas State 84-35 in that span. OSU has not scored less than five runs since April 14, a 6-3 loss to Big 12 leader West Virginia.

Oklahoma State baseball rewind: Nolan Schubart's record day caps Cowboys' huge week at plate

Oklahoma State outfielder Nolan Schubart (10) hits a home run during a college baseball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Baylor Bears at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Oklahoma State outfielder Nolan Schubart (10) hits a home run during a college baseball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Baylor Bears at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Nolan Schubart sends a ball to orbit

OSU’s tracking system indicated that freshman Nolan Schubart’s home run actually landed Sunday afternoon.

But physical proof might be required.

The Cowboys’ 6-foot-5 freshman absolutely demolished a baseball 461 feet for a three-run homer in the first inning, easily clearing the large batting eye in center field.

“To put three up in the first on an absolute — in my estimation one of the longer homers I’ve ever seen here,” Holliday said before pausing.

“Big momentum.”

Schubart is up to 14 homers on the season, five coming in the last week.

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Long ball leads the way

Speaking of homers, the Cowboys continue to hit them in bunches.

They hit two in Friday’s loss, including a two-run shot by Schubart in the ninth that made it a one-run game.

They hit three more Saturday. They added two on Sunday.

OSU now has a Big 12-best 94 homers on the season, 13 ahead of Texas Tech.

Star second baseman Roc Riggio homered once on the weekend, bringing his total to a team-high 17, which is tied for second in the conference.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State baseball in Big 12 championship hunt at Bedlam series