April 18, 2009
Box Score | Quotes
STILLWATER, Okla. - Mark Ginther's tie-breaking solo home run in the bottom of the sixth gave Oklahoma State a 4-3 victory over seventh-ranked Baylor in Saturday afternoon's Big 12 Conference game at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Baylor (25-12, 10-7) fell to 11-3 in one-run games this season, suffering its second one-run loss this week. Oklahoma State (25-15, 5-9) snapped a five-game Big 12 losing streak with the win.
Baylor starter Aaron Miller struck out Neil Medchill to start the sixth and got a first-pitch strike on Ginther. After missing the zone on his second pitch, Miller hung a pitch up on the inside part of the plate, and Ginther turned on for his second home run of the season.
Dustin Dickerson drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, but OSU reliever Randy McCurry retired the next three batters and stranded Dickerson at second. Ben Booker singled to open the ninth and moved to second on Landis Ware's sacrifice bunt. Brooks Kimmey's flew out to center, pushing Booker to third, and Joey Hainsfurther drew a full-count walk. McCurry closed the door, though, getting a game-ending ground out from Raynor Campbell.
Oklahoma State starter Tyler Lyons (5-3) earned the win; allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 7.0-plus innings, leaving the game after walking Dickerson to open the eighth. McCurry recorded two strikeouts over 2.0 scoreless innings for his seventh save of the season.
Miller (3-1) took the loss for the Bears. He allowed four runs on seven hits and no walks with nine strikeouts. Shawn Tolleson stranded a runner in sixth and tossed 2.1 perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Medchill's one-out sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first gave OSU a 1-0 lead. Baylor answered in the third when Campbell and Shaver Hansen walked ahead of Miller's three-run homer to right-center. It was Miller's second home run of the series. In the bottom of the fourth, Thomas Belza tied the game at 3-3 with a one-out, two-run single.
The Bears stranded seven runners on the day, including five in scoring position. Campbell opened the game with a single but was stranded at third. Campbell delivered a one-out single in the fifth but was stranded at second. Miller doubled to start the sixth but was stranded at third.
Campbell, Miller and Booker all had two-hit days for the Bears. Dustin Dickerson singled in the first, extending his career-long hitting streak to 23 games. Dickerson's streak is the longest in the Big 12 this season and the third-longest in Baylor history. He also has hit safely in 15 consecutive conference games, the longest streak in the league this season and the fifth-longest Big 12 streak in school history.
Baylor and Oklahoma State conclude the series Sunday with 1 p.m. CDT first pitch. The Bears send right-hander Willie Kempf (4-1, 4.55 ERA) to the mound. The Cowboys counter with southpaw Andrew Oliver (4-4, 5.81 ERA).
NOTES: Oklahoma State leads the all-time series 35-26, including a 15-11 edge at Stillwater. Baylor is 21-23 against OSU during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. €¦ Miller (12 games), Campbell (six games) and Gregg Glime (three games) all extended hitting streaks, while Ware (four games) and Gedwed (three games) both saw streaks end. €¦ Miller (eight games) and Campbell (four games) also extended Big 12 hitting streaks. Ware saw his eight-game conference hitting streak end.
