After a scoreless top of the first inning, OSU would start off this game hot. A one out triple for Brayden Smith would bring up Jayson Jones, who would rope a double into the left-center gap to put the Cowboys up early. Kollin Ritchie would follow up Jones’ double with a sac-fly giving OSU a 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, Brayden Smith would grab another RBI, this time with two outs, singling to center field to put the Cowboys up 3-0.
After sitting the Bison down 1-2-3 in the top of the third, the Cowboys would light some fireworks in the bottom of the third inning. Nolan Schubart would crush a projected 517-foot moonshot, putting OSU up four. Shortly after, with two outs and a runner on first base, Ian Daughtery would get in on the Cowboy fun, hitting a two-run home run, blowing the game open in the third inning.
After getting Brock Thompson to line out to end the third inning, Garret Shupe’s day would be done for the Bison. The righty recorded a season high five strikeouts during his second career start. OSU would add another run in the bottom of the fourth when Brayden Smith joined the home run parade, going opposite field for his fourth home run of the season, putting Oklahoma up 7-0.
Colin Brueggeman would add the fourth and final home run of the evening for the Cowboys in the bottom of the fifth, going dead center giving OSU an eight-run lead. Oklahoma would push a run across the plate in each of the first six innings, grabbing their ninth run of the game in the sixth, via a Brayden Smith sac-fly to left field.
North Dakota State wouldn’t get shutout on Wednesday however, when a Carson Becker single to right field scored Bennet Freiter in the eighth inning, bringing in the lonely run for the Bison Wednesday. NDSU would go down in order in the top of the ninth, to end the long day. Oklahoma would take the opener 9-1.
NDSU starter Garret Shupe finished his day with five strikeouts, giving up six earned runs on seven hits, allowing one walk. Colten Becker, Tate Martin, and Alex Urlaub would be the only three Bison players to register a hit on Wednesday.
Brayden Smith led the way for Oklahoma State Wednesday night, as he registered three RBIs on four hits, including his one of four home runs. Mario Pesca didn’t start the game for Oklahoma but would register the win. OSU pitching totaled 17 strikeouts against the Bison.
The Bison fall to 4-15 on the season, a season where they have seen brutal matchups. NDSU has the second highest strength of schedule in NCAA Division One baseball. North Dakota State will hope for better results when they finish the quick two game series against Oklahoma State, Wednesday, March 19th. First pitch has been moved from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. due to incoming weather.
