WICHITA, Kan. - #21 Oklahoma State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings and never looked back, knocking off Wichita State 9-5 on Tuesday night at Riverfront Stadium.
The Shockers (19-14) had several chances to get back into the game late, stranding a season-high 16 runners on base and going just 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position. Wichita State nearly doubled up the Cowboys in hits (14-8) and OSU committed two errors to Wichita State's one, but the Shockers walked 11 and hit three batters to open the door for the early offense.
After a Carson Benge RBI double in the first inning got the scoring started, the Cowboys scored three runs in the second without the benefit of a hit. A bases-loaded hit by pitch and two bases-loaded walks made it 4-0, then three more walks in the third set the stage for a Benge sacrifice fly that extended the Cowboys lead to 5-0.
Wichita State finally drew blood in the bottom of the fifth, using a walk and three consecutive singles to plate two runs against reliever Aaron Weber. But the Shockers stranded two men in scoring position in the inning, and Oklahoma State restored their cushion with a single tally in the sixth and three more in the top of the eighth to swell the lead to 9-2. Lane Haworth rapped his third hit of the night in the bottom of the eighth to drive home a run and Kam Durnin rifled a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth that produced the final margin.
Freshman Jeremiah Arnett (0-1) took the loss in his first career start for Wichita State, allowing two runs in 1.1 innings of work. Mason Munz put together the best outing of his Shocker career in the middle innings, firing 2.2 hitless, scoreless frames with a career-high six strikeouts. Ronald Zayas also turned in a scoreless ninth inning.
Ryan Bogusz (1-1) picked up the win for Oklahoma State with 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.
The Shockers are back in action on Wednesday night against Kansas State. First pitch from Tointon Family Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.