Wentworth's Grand Slam Powers Cowboys Past Cincinnati 11-3

During his postgame session with reporters Friday, Josh Holliday outlined the steps to sparking a midseason turnaround.

After trailing by seven runs midway through against Cincinnati, OSU rallied to clinch the series opener. There, the Oklahoma State coach noted how such wins can be a turning point in a team’s season and be a source of positive momentum.

The Cowboys' sluggish 3-6 start to conference play was unforeseen. But OSU's thunderous comeback win on Friday, Holliday said, was the first step shifting the team's season toward a positive trajectory.

That sentiment was validated one day later.

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OSU fired on all cylinders in an 11-3 win against Cincinnati on Saturday at O’Brate Stadium. Timely hits, a stellar start from veteran arm Mario Pesca and a three-inning relief effort from sophomore righty Stormy Rhodes to slam the door culminated into a complete team effort, en route to a series-clinching victory.

Now, the Cowboys (20-11, 5-6 Big 12) have a prime opportunity to complete a sweep in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. A series victory is validating, sure. But a sweep would be a statement.

And perhaps most importantly, it would inch Holliday's team closer to establishing that midseason turnaround.

#OkState coach Josh Holliday’s opening statement following his team’s 11-3 series-clinching win against Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/bQZPc8vH5f

— Daniel Allen (@bydanielallen25) April 5, 2026

“Gutsy effort by our kids, I’m really proud of them,” Holliday said. “...Just very pleased with our effort. We had a couple of miscues that were strange, but that’s baseball. And I think the nice thing is that the team is learning how to pick each other up and play around those things.”

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Wentworth helps OSU pull away with grand slam, two-homer day

TP Wentworth knew the ball was en route to the outfield stands the moment it left his bat. 

With his team leading 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning and in need of insurance runs, Wentworth unloaded on a sinker from Cincinnati right-hander Joel Pinero. He took a moment to admire his work, marveling over the sight of it sailing on a line toward the right-field stands. But he couldn’t watch for too long. 

Moments later, “You Dropped a Bomb on me” echoed through the O’Brate Stadium sound system. His Wentworth’s celebration was expedited as the home plate umpire motioned for Wentworth to get going. 

“It was worth it, though,” Wentworth said with a laugh. 

Throughout the season, Holliday has emphasized the vitality behind collective offense and timely hitting. Diverting away from a one-dimensional offensive approach and being less reliant on home runs to establish fluency at the plate.

Wentworth provided that with a two-home run, three-hit and five-RBI effort. His first long ball came as a solo blast to tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the second, leading to a three-run frame for the Cowboys. His next came five innings later in the bottom of the seventh.

Wentworth’s grand slam not only provided the Cowboys with pivotal insurance runs — it ignited an offensive eruption.

OSU plated seven runs in the frame, attaining a cushion it wouldn’t come close to surrendering. They came courtesy of five walks and three hits, two of which came in timely fashion. First Wentworth’s grand slam, then a one-out, two-RBI double from Brock Thompson four at-bats later.

“The homer TP hit late was the difference maker,” Holliday said. “Because I think that really just took all of the wind out of (Cincinnati’s) sails. At that time they were still hanging in there. And that’s good.”

Colin Brueggemann, who had homered four times in a two-game span, sputtered offensively on Saturday. But such games are to be expected in baseball, especially amid hot streaks such as Brueggemann’s. Momentum can dwindle at random, while the grueling nature of a 56- to 58-game regular season can have a calamitous effect on players. 

That’s where Wentworth’s hot bat came in. 

Wentworth has homered three times over OSU’s past three games, dating back to its midweek win at Dallas Baptist on Tuesday. He’s posted hits in four of his past five games. And according to his coach, he might be nearing a hot stretch at the plate. 

“For me, I think that was a little bit of a coming out party (for Wentworth),” Holliday said. “A lot of hard work has been put in by that young man. He is a tenacious, tenacious worker and has a huge expectation of himself because he wants to deliver on behalf of the team. 

“To see him come through for us, obviously that was big.”

Pesca dazzles in ninth start 

Mario Pesca strengthened what had already been a productive three-week stretch.

On Saturday, the senior right-hander matched a season-high strikeout total for the third time this season with eight. All while limiting the Bearcats (21-12, 4-7 Big 12) to just four hits, one walk and three runs — only two of which were earned — through six innings of work and 88 pitches. His lone blemish came in the top of the second with consecutive two-out RBI single, which gave Cincinnati its only lead of the game.

And had it not been for an awkward release when throwing a sinker in the top of the sixth, which left a cut on the pointer finger of his throwing hand, Pesca would have returned for the seventh.

“I wanted the ball, I wanted to go back out there and pitch, but it is what it is,” Pesca said. “I’ll be back out there next week (against Kansas State).”

Which Holliday echoed, confirming Pesca’s premature exit was purely precautionary.

Through his first six starts this season, Pesca had eclipsed five strikeouts only once. His last few, three times.

He has tallied 23 strikeouts over his last three starts. Walks, which were a recurrent woe for him early in the season, are down. Pesca has surrendered only five in that span.

His pitchability has been stellar, his accuracy has peaked and his stuff has been deceiving. 

But it hasn’t been a product of any substantial tweaks in his pitch technique. Pesca said his recent success stems from him returning to the basics and philosophies that were echoed in the offseason.  

“I think the adjustments that we made in the beginning of the year (are the same ones I've made the past few weeks),” Pesca said. “My first two starts were kind of rocky, but the adjustments we’ve made to kind of aid and get better from those are the ones that we’ve been rolling with. 

“With those adjustments from the beginning of the season, and just staying on track and trusting my stuff — my stuff has gotten way better — and the fact that I’m able to just go out and compete and not have to worry about anything, it’s a comforting feeling.”

Conover leads the way offensively 

As if Alex Conover’s junior campaign couldn’t be further enhanced, he delivered again on Saturday.

Conover led the way offensively for OSU with a 4-for-4, RBI outing, reaching base safely each of his six plate appearances. His go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the second gave the Cowboys the lead the rest of the way.

Conover didn’t flex power, but he did showcase small ball abilities that provided the Cowboys a non-one-dimensional approach on offense. 

“I thought Conover was fantastic in the one hole,” Hoilliday said. “Got on base six straight times. What a great catalyst. He’s a tough kid.”