Senior Matt Gardner won Game 1 between the Cowboys and the Wildcats on Tuesday 10-2. Gardner is 3-1 with a 5.48 earned runs average and will likely pitch this weekend at Kansas State.
While some Big 12 schools played teams such as Houston Baptist and Northern Colorado for their midweek games, the Cowboys chose to host a tougher opponent.
No. 6 Arizona came to Stillwater for a two-game series and left with two losses.
Now, the No. 22 Cowboys must travel to Manhattan to face Kansas State in their third Big 12 series. OSU has played only one conference series at home and will go to Missouri next weekend. The Cowboys won’t play another home game until April 8.
Still, OSU is 17-6, 3-3 in the Big 12, and riding a four-game winning streak. Coach Frank Anderson said at the end of the year, the team will be glad it had such a tough schedule.
“That’s why we play these games,” Anderson said. “I think they’re good RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) games. These are great wins.”
Anderson said playing tough nonconference games also helps prepare the team for Big 12 games on the weekends.
“Maybe we’ll find some people in the midweek games that you didn’t know you had because you have to pitch them,” Anderson said. “Then you can use them on the weekends, and they become viable people to use (in conference games).”
Junior shortstop Jordy Mercer said sweeping Arizona will help the Cowboys against Kansas State (11-11, 0-3).
“It’s a confidence booster for sure,” Mercer said. “Anytime you beat a top-5 team more or less, they were preseason ranked No. 1, too, anytime you come in and beat a team like that boosts your confidence.”
Senior Josh Neal earned the win for the Cowboys on Wednesday. He said he was excited to beat such a talented team.
“It’s always fun to play a series with somebody as good as they are,” Neal said. “They’re a great ballclub. It’s awesome. It gives us momentum going into this weekend.”
Anderson said the sweep was a boost not only because of Arizona’s success but also because of OSU’s schedule.
“The Big 12 didn’t do us any favors; we go on the road three out of the first four series,” Anderson said. “It’s a momentum builder, but we gotta go up there and just keep going.”
Kansas State is coming off a midweek win against Creighton. Like the Cowboys, K-State also brings a four-game winning streak to the series.
Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Saturday’s at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s at 1 p.m.
Although K-State has not won a conference game, Anderson said the Cowboys are not overlooking the Wildcats.
“[K-State] has won some games in a row, and that’s a tough place to play up there,” Anderson said.
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