March 31, 2007

Box Score

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Baylor pitchers surrendered seven home runs on the day, including five in the opener, as No. 14 Oklahoma State swept the Bears in a doubleheader 15-5 (seven innings) and 14-7 Saturday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Baylor (16-13, 2-6) has lost seven consecutive Big 12 road games. Oklahoma State (21-6, 4-1) has won seven of its last eight and improved to 12-2 at home this season.

Oklahoma State led 13-5 entering the seventh inning of the first game. Solo home runs by Ty Wright and Jordy Mercer pushed the Cowboys' lead to 10 runs and invoked the Big 12 Conference's mercy rule, which is in affect for series finales and doubleheaders.

Rebel Ridling led the Cowboy attack in the opener, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI. After Matt Sodolak gave Baylor a 2-0 lead with a two-run double in the top of the second, Ridling erased the Bears' advantage with a three-run shot to center.

Oklahoma State never trailed again, adding five runs in the third, two in the fourth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh. Matt Mangini had OSU's other home run, a two-run shot to center that started the Cowboys' five-run third.

Baylor starter Jeff Mandel (2-3) was touched for a career-high 10 runs on 10 hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings. It was the shortest outing of the season for Mandel, who had logged at least six innings in six consecutive starts. The 10 runs allowed by Mandel matched his total number of runs allowed in his previous five starts combined.

OSU starter Oliver Odle (4-2) was awarded the victory, allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Josh Fritsche scattered four hits with three strikeouts in 3.0 scoreless innings of relief for the save.

In the nightcap, Baylor built a 3-0 lead on consecutive homers in the top of the second. Chase Gerdes connected on a 2-2 offering for a two-run shot to right. Matt Czimskey hit the next pitch out to left. It was Baylor's first back-to-back home runs since April 18, 2003, when Chris Durbin and David Murphy accomplished the feat.

The Cowboys pulled back even with a run in the bottom of the second and two in the third. Mangini broke that tie with a three-run homer to right-center in the fourth, and OSU never trailed again. Tyler Mach's three-run double in the sixth answered Baylor's run in the top of the inning and pushed the Cowboys' lead to 9-4.

Baylor battled back with a pair of runs in the seventh and a run in the eighth; however, Mercer's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth stymied the Bears' comeback bid. The Cowboys tacked on another run on Keanon Simon's two-out RBI single.

Randall Linebaugh (2-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 5.0 innings.

Robbie Weinhardt (2-0), the first of three OSU relievers, earned the win, holding Baylor to three runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Justin Friend earned the save, pitching OSU out of a jam in the seventh and allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over 2.1 innings.