Senior third baseman Matt Hague hit one of the Cowboys’ seven home runs Tuesday.
The wind was blowing out to left field at Reynolds Stadium on Tuesday, and it wasn’t long before baseballs were going with it.
Four Oklahoma State players combined for seven home runs in the first six innings against Missouri State, and OSU eventually powered its way to a 19-10 victory.
The two teams combined for 20 runs on 20 hits off of four pitchers in the first two and half innings, and Missouri State starter Jon Barnes left the game before retiring a batter.
Sophomore left fielder Dylan Brown paced the offensive outburst for the Cowboys (10-3). He finished with a career-high three home runs and began to show signs of the power OSU coaches thought he might possess.
Coach Frank Anderson said it was nice to see Brown come around.
“It’s good to see him have some success because we’ve known it’s been in there,” Anderson said. “It’s nice to see him start playing well.”
Brown said a recent change his hitting coach made has led to the increase in his production over the last few games, especially on Tuesday against the Bears (8-3).
“He decided to move my hands up off my shoulders,” Brown said. “I just started getting a feel for my hands now and it’s just going from there. Before, I tried to muscle up and hit the ball instead of letting my hands do the work.”
With Brown’s increased power, it’s easy to start making comparisons between Brown and his older brother Corey, who led OSU with 22 home runs last season, but Anderson said the brothers aren’t mirror images of each other.
“They’re a lot different than what you might think,” Anderson said. “Corey’s a speed guy moreso, and I think Dylan is going to have more pop when it’s all said and done.”
Anderson said the situations the brothers faced coming in as freshmen were different, but that might work in favor of the younger Brown.
“Corey we had to play because we didn’t have anyone else,” Anderson said. “Dylan walked into an outfield that was probably one of the best one’s I’ve ever had and didn’t get to play much. Now his learning curve is a little bit slower, but he might end up better.”
Junior shortstop Jordy Mercer said Brown can easily fill the offensive void his older brother left.
“He’s just as talented as Corey is,” Mercer said. “He has just as much power. Everybody saw that [Tuesday].”
Brown said he and his brother keep in touch and trade tips about opposing teams.
“We talk every day about baseball,” Brown said. “He talked to me all last year, and he’s staying behind me. He’s letting me know about stuff and telling me about different pitchers, and it’s always kind of worked out in the end for me.”
Although Brown had career-bests in home runs, RBIs and runs scored, his baseballs weren’t the only ones leaving the ballpark.
Newcomers Matt Hague, Luis Flores and Tyrone Hambly combined for four more Cowboy homers. Along with Brown, the four players accounted for 16 of OSU’s 18 RBIs.
Mercer said it’s nice to get production out of players that are new to the system.
“We need the new guys to step up,” Mercer said. “We expect it out of them. It’s something that’s going to add to the offense that we already have. Everybody’s rolling right now and that’s what we need.”
Brown said playing at home might have had something to do with the offensive outburst on Tuesday.
“It helps a little bit being back at home,” Brown said. “We have a little more wind that blows out for us, and everyone’s always a more pumped up to play in front of their home crowd.”
The Cowboys open Big 12 play this weekend with a trip to Waco for a three game series with Baylor before returning to Stillwater for a nine game homestand.
Brown said the team is looking forward to playing more games in front of the OSU fans.
“It’s just nice to be home finally,” Brown said. “We’re back on the road this weekend, but hopefully we can just keep this going at home. We feel more comfortable here.”
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