Cowboys ride 7 strikeouts from Mario Pesca to even series against BYU with 12-5 win

Oklahoma State’s offense ignited early and didn’t slow down.

After a grueling walk-off loss to BYU in Thursday’s series opener, the Cowboys erupted for 11 hits and two home runs in a 12-5 win on Friday at Miller Park to even the series with the Cougars. Center fielder Kollin Ritchie led the way offensively with a 3-for-3, two-RBI, home run day, while shortstop Brock Thompson collected two hits of his own. Senior right-hander Mario Pesca dazzled on the mound, providing a stable 6 ⅔-inning start, keeping BYU’s offense at bay for most of the night. 

In turn, the Cowboys (17-10, 3-5 Big 12) have a chance to claim the series in Saturday’s rubber game, which begins at 2 p.m. central standard time. The Cougars (12-13, 3-5 Big 12) likely won’t make it easy, but if anything, momentum might be in OSU's favor. 

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Pesca dazzles on the mound 

Pesca took the mound and didn’t look back.

One inning in, Pesca’s strikeout total sat at two. By the end of the third, it was at four. And it only elevated as each inning went by. 

Pesca flashed his steady mixture of changeup and curveball, stifling BYU’s hitters for most of the game. He clawed his way to seven strikeouts — one week removed from a season-high eight against Baylor — surrendering only six hits, two walks and three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. In turn, he posted his fourth quality outing this season and lowered his ERA to a 4.62 mark.

Much has been said of Pesca’s offseason transformation. Both from coach Josh Holliday and Pesca’s teammates. He lost a substantial amount of weight, fine tuned his throwing mechanics with new pitching coach Blake Hawksworth and emulated a newfound mentality on the mound, which he has called a “dog mentality.”

And while his senior campaign has been choppy thus far, he’s looked the part the past two weeks.   

Cowboys ride five-run top of the fifth

After catcher Campbell Smithwick drew first blood with a sacrifice fly out in the top of the first, the Cowboys squandered opportunities to pull away over the ensuing two innings. 

A two-run top of the fourth gave them a 3-2 lead. But the decisive blow came in the fifth.

Second baseman Garrett Shull ignited it with a two-run moonshot to left field to make it 5-2, punishing BYU reliever Dan Brousseau’s hanging curveball down the middle of the strike zone. Smithwick and left fielder Alex Conover followed with one-out, RBI doubles, before freshman Sebastian Norman capped off the frame with a sacrifice fly out of his own to make it 8-2. 

That offensive eruption gave OSU a cushion it wouldn’t come close to surrendering. And perhaps most importantly, it showcased the lethality within this lineup. 

Now, consistency becomes vital.

The Cowboys have shown they have enough offensive firepower to contend with the premier teams in the Big 12. But inconsistency has hindered them in pivotal moments this season.

Momentum is a prevalent element of baseball. So, perhaps Friday can be a stepping stone for OSU hitters moving forward.

Fyke slams the door over the latter innings 

Kai Fyke hasn’t garnered substantial closing opportunities this season.

Friday was only his second, and he struck out two to only two hits and as many earned runs over the latter 2 1/3 innings. His first, March 17 against South Dakota State. 

The hefty junior right-hander, who transferred in from Arizona Central Community College, has closer elements to his makeup. His mid-90s, high-riding four-seam fastball might be the highlight of his pitch arsenal. After his outing against the Jackrabbits. Holliday mentioned how he is hopeful Fyke can log more late-game relief appearances.

Sophomore righty Noah Wech has established himself as OSU’s closer. But perhaps Fyke can be another viable high-leverage option for the Cowboys down the road.