STILLWATER, Okla. – The 23
rd-ranked Cowboys struck early and silenced the Trojan bats as Little Rock fell at Oklahoma State, 12-0, in seven innings at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater Wednesday afternoon.
Little Rock (6-4) was limited to just one hit – a single to right by
Kale Emshoff in the fourth inning – and struggled to temper an Oklahoma State offense that tallied 12 runs off 10 hits while taking advantage of seven walks issued.
Austin Smith (2-1) struggled in his first career start, allowing five runs on three hits while issuing three walks in 0.1 innings. That early lead allowed OSU (7-2) to find a rhythm at the plate, a rhythm it maintained despite the appearance of five Trojan relievers.
Eli Sievert and
Jose Torres were the only Little Rock pitchers to not allow a hit while Torres struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth.
Meanwhile C.J. Varela (2-0) kept Little Rock hitters off balance, allowing just one hit and striking out five while throwing 69 pitches in seven innings on the mound. He did not issue a walk.
OSU used the momentum of that five-run opening frame to add two more in the second and fourth innings before scoring three in the fifth.
Having been on the road for six games in the span of six days, Little Rock now returns home to host North Alabama in a three-game series at Gary Hogan Field beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
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