Published: May 08, 2008 11:44 am            

O-State falls to seventh-ranked Owls

HOUSTON — Oklahoma State managed just four hits Wednesday and suffered a 4-2 loss to seventh-ranked Rice in front of 3,316 fans at Reckling Park.

The No. 10 Cowboys allowed just one earned run in the contest, but two errors proved costly as they dropped to 35-13 on the season. OSU fell behind in the first inning when Rice leadoff hitter Jared Gayhart homered over the left-field wall off junior Brett Davis, who made his first career start for the Cowboys.

The Owls (36-11) grabbed a 4-0 lead in the second inning, taking advantage of an error by junior shortstop Jordy Mercer to plate three unearned runs.

With one out, Mercer booted a ground ball that allowed Diego Seastrunk to reach safely, and two batters later, Chad Mozingo tripled to center field to make the score 2-0. Derek Myers then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run home run to give the Owls a four-run advantage.

Rice’s 4-0 lead held up until the sixth when the Cowboys cut their deficit in half. Mercer reached on an error to lead off the inning, and sophomore Neil Medchill followed with a home run to left field. The homer was Medchill’s seventh of the season.

The Cowboys brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth innings but failed to score as they left seven runners on base. Davis suffered the loss for the Cowboys to fall to 2-1 on the season. The junior southpaw allowed four runs on three hits and struck out two in 12⁄3 innings.

Over the final 61⁄3 innings, senior Robbie Weinhardt, junior Matt Peck and senior Matt Hague kept Rice off the scoreboard as the trio combined to strike out four and allow just four hits.

Mike Ojala earned the win for the Owls, working 51⁄3 innings and striking out five to improve to 4-0. Cole St. Clair worked a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save of the year. Hague was one of four Cowboys to collect a hit in the contest and extended his season-long hitting streak to 12 games.

The Cowboys return to Big 12 action Friday against Texas Tech at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Friday’s opener is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start.

        

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