Oklahoma State had its chances to put Texas Tech away, but instead it waited for the Red Raiders to implode in a 7-2 Cowboy win at the Big 12 baseball tournament at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The second-seeded Cowboys (37-16) had only one run-scoring hit, but Texas Tech miscues brought in five OSU runs to widen the gap.
The OSU bullpen closed the door for the win after an impressive performance from Carson Benge on the mound and at the plate.
The Cowboys move on to face eighth-seed Central Florida at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
Carson Benge does it all
Making his third start on the mound this season, Benge allowed two runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks over 6 ⅓ innings to earn the win.
An error gave the Red Raiders a baserunner right before Gavin Kash belted a two-run home run to right field in the seventh, and that ended Benge’s day on the mound.
But the two-way star also did some damage with the bat.
He doubled in the first inning and scored on Zach Ehrhard’s two-run homer. Benge finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored.
Cowboys strand 13
OSU found ways to score, but it wasn’t with timely hitting. The Pokes were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position — the only hit being Ehrhard’s first-inning homer — and 0 for 5 with the bases loaded.
The Pokes loaded the bases in three different innings, and twice left them loaded.
Of the Cowboys’ final five runs, two scored on wild pitches and three scored on bases-loaded walks.
In all, Texas Tech pitchers combined to walk 12 batters, but managed to strand 13 Cowboys on base.
Bullpen finishes strong
Behind Benge, Tommy Molsky and Robert Cranz combined to record the final eight outs.
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