Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
TCU
Cowboys Fall In Big 12 Title Game
May 25, 2014 | Cowboy Baseball
May 25, 2014
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma State's run at the Big 12 Baseball Championship fell short of a title Sunday as the top-seeded Cowboys dropped a 7-1 contest to second-seeded TCU in the championship game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The loss snapped the Cowboys' three-game winning streak as the regular season Big 12 champions fell to 45-16.
Shortly after the contest, OSU was named one of 16 hosts for an NCAA Regional later this week in Stillwater, assuring the program of its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 40th overall. The Cowboys will open NCAA tourney play Friday at Reynolds Stadium; the three other teams in the Stillwater Regional will be announced when the NCAA field of 64 is revealed Monday at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.
OSU entered Sunday's title tilt set to play its sixth game in five days (with a 4-1 record), while TCU entered unbeaten in just three tourney games.
“I am very proud of our team,” said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. “I think what they accomplished in the last five days was significant. The way that we played – we played six games in five days, and it's the most baseball we have played all year. For the most part it was very high end, quality baseball against elite opponents. To walk away from TCU, Texas three times and OU, twice, we walked out of here 4-2. So we saw some outstanding teams and played good baseball, and it has certainly prepared us for what lies ahead, which I'm sure is a challenging tournament next week.
“So, congratulations to TCU, and I guess it's fitting that they won the tournament as we won the regular season as we were neck-and-neck from start to finish.”
Seldom-used Michael Freeman got the start on the mound for the Cowboys and performed admirably despite suffering the loss. The junior southpaw, who entered the game with just 9 1/3 innings pitched in nine appearances, worked five innings and allowed six runs, five of them earned, on seven hits. He walked four and struck out four on 111 pitches.
TCU (42-15) plated the game's first run in the bottom of the second when Kevin Cron, who singled to lead off the inning, eventually came around to score on an RBI groundout by Jerrick Suiter.
The Cowboys weren't down long as they tied the score in the third. Tim Arakawa led off the inning with a single and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Craig McConaughy. Up next, Bryan Case struck out but reached safely on a wild pitch, which also allowed Arakawa to take third.
That set the stage for Saulyer Saxon, who laid down a perfect bunt that turned into an RBI single and knotted the score at 1-1.
The fourth inning would turn the game in TCU's favor as the Horned Frogs rallied for four runs on three hits, three walks and a pair of passed balls to take a 5-1 advantage. Dylan Fitzgerald got things started with a bases loaded, two-RBI single and Keaton Jones also added an RBI in the inning.
TCU southpaw Tyler Alexander would hold OSU scoreless over the final six innings as the freshman recorded a complete game and allowed the lone run on just four hits, two of those by Saxon.
Three Cowboys earned spots on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team: Case (catcher), Tanner Krietemeier (first base) and Donnie Walton (shortstop).
