Oklahoma State’s baseball season wrapped up on Saturday night with a tough 9-7 loss to Alabama in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional finals. The game, held at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, lasted 11 innings and was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Cowboys, who finished the season with a record of 39 wins and 22 losses.
OSU’s power game was on full display as they hit four home runs during the match. Deacon Pomeroy, Avery Ortiz, Brock Thompson, and Kollin Ritchie all left the yard, contributing to a season total of 150 home runs. This impressive tally ranks as the second-highest in the program’s history, just shy of the 154 homers hit in 1988. Ritchie stood out with 31 home runs, the second-most in a single season for OSU, behind only Pete Incaviglia’s NCAA record of 48 set in 1985.
On the pitching side, Noah Wech made his first start of the season, throwing five innings and allowing five runs. Ethan Lund followed with a strong performance in relief, striking out seven batters over 4 2/3 innings. He finished the season with 137 strikeouts, marking the eighth-highest single-season total in the program’s history. However, Mario Pesca took the loss after giving up three runs late in the game.
The match was tense throughout. Alabama struck first with an RBI single in the second inning, putting them ahead 1-0. They extended their lead to 4-0 after a series of hits in the third. But the Cowboys refused to back down; Pomeroy’s two-run homer ignited their comeback, and they eventually took a 6-5 lead in the seventh with back-to-back homers from Thompson and Ritchie.
The battle continued into extra innings. Alabama regained the lead in the 11th with a three-run homer from Brady Neal. OSU managed to load the bases in response, but a strikeout ended their hopes of a comeback.
Despite the loss, four Cowboys were named to the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional All-Tournament Team: Colin Brueggemann, Garrett Shull, Ortiz, and Ritchie. Their dedication and skill shone through in a game that showcased both team spirit and individual achievements.
This season, OSU’s offensive firepower and pitching depth hinted at a bright future. As they move forward, fans can look forward to seeing how this young team will continue to grow and compete in the NCAA landscape. For those interested in college baseball statistics and records, visit the NCAA official site.
