Is Oklahoma State baseball two-way star Carson Benge's pitching role becoming clearer?

STILLWATER — Getting its first taste of action against programs from the major-conference level, the Oklahoma State baseball team held up well.

The Cowboys took two of three games in the Kubota College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, over the weekend — including a marathon win over fifth-ranked Arkansas.

The Pokes got a good amount of consistency out of both the hitters and the pitchers, and have one game left in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex before returning home for the first games of the year at O’Brate Stadium.

Here’s a look at what we learned about the Cowboys last week:

More: How Oklahoma State baseball found offensive life heading into challenging week in Texas

Oklahoma State

Overall record: 4-3

Last week: 3-1 (Beat Abilene Christian 8-4, Michigan 9-3 and Arkansas 2-1 in 14 innings, lost to Oregon State 8-1)

This week: At Dallas Baptist, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; vs. Central Michigan, 4 p.m. Friday, 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday.

Gabe Davis anchors win over Arkansas

Tommy Molsky earned the pitching victory in the 14-inning marathon win over Arkansas, but Gabe Davis deserves MVP honors.

The sophomore from Choctaw entered in relief with one out in the seventh inning and allowed three hits over 5 ⅔ innings of shutout ball. He did not appear in a game over the first week of the season but threw a total of 7 ⅔ shutout innings in Arlington.

The 6-foot-9 right-hander has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in his two college seasons, but threw a career-high 84 pitches, striking out five and walking two. Only once last year in 22 outings did Davis throw more than 50 pitches.

While this was only his second appearance of the season, Davis has yet to allow a run.

His effort set the table for Molsky’s strong finish. And the Cowboys also got six strong innings from starter Brian Holiday, who allowed a run on two hits. He has a 0.75 ERA through his first 12 innings of the season.

Thanks to Holiday and Davis carrying the bulk of the load, the Cowboys needed just four pitchers to get through the 14-inning game.

Aidan Meola strong again, leaves with injury

Second baseman Aidan Meola put together his second strong week to start the season, shooting to the top of OSU’s batting average chart at .444 with three doubles and eight RBIs.

He was 3 for 5 with a double and four RBIs in the win over Abilene Christian, then had an RBI in each of the next three games, including one in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings against Arkansas.

But he left the Oregon State game with an apparent leg injury. At the time, he was 2 for 2 and had knocked in the Cowboys’ only run of the game.

Meola missed much of last season with a thumb injury. Stepping in at second base this season, he has not only hit the ball well, but has committed just one error in 25 chances to begin the year, while taking part in three double plays.

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Late-inning role for Carson Benge?

While sophomore Carson Benge remains the everyday right fielder, batting near the top of the lineup, his pitching role entering the season was less obvious.

After his first two appearances, however, that might be starting to clear up.

Benge entered in the ninth inning of a tied game on opening weekend, ultimately giving up the ground ball that allowed the winning run to score in a 2-1 Cowboy loss.

And on Friday, with the Cowboys holding a 9-3 edge on Michigan, coach Josh Holliday again went to Benge to finish the game. He struck out two and needed just 11 pitches to get through the inning.

Though neither appearance came in save situations, Benge — who made all 10 of his appearances as a starter last year — could be in line for high-leverage innings out of the bullpen this season.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State baseball: Is Carson Benge's pitching role clearing up?