STILLWATER, Okla. – Matt Hague’s three-run home run provided all the runs Oklahoma State needed as the Cowboys earned a 3-2 win over No. 6 Arizona Wednesday night at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
The win was the fourth in a row for 22nd-ranked OSU, which improved to 17-6 overall and 11-1 at home this season. The Wildcats dropped their fourth-straight game and fell to 13-7 on the year.
Hague’s fourth home run of the season came with two on and one out in the third. Dylan Brown led off the frame with a double, and after Thomas Belza struck out, Jordy Mercer reached on an infield single to bring Hague to the plate.
And the Cowboy senior delivered, blasting an offering from UA pitcher Ryan Perry over the left field wall to give OSU a 3-1 advantage. The homer was Hague’s fourth of the season and raised his team-leading RBI total to 29.
Arizona scored its final run of the ball game in the fifth inning when Jon Gaston, who led off the frame with a triple, scored on a wild pitch by Matt Willis.
Josh Neal was outstanding on the mound in relief of Willis as the senior earned the win to improve to 2-0 this season.
Neal came out of the bullpen with one out in the fifth and worked the final 4.2 innings. The southpaw faced just one batter over the minimum and did not allow a run while recording four strikeouts and allowing just two hits.
Luis Flores led the Cowboys’ offense with a 3-for-4 night, while Hague finished the contest 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to a season long eight games. Brown also had two hits in three trips to the plate.
OSU returns to Big 12 Conference action Friday when they open a series against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. Friday’s opener is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start.
