Extra‑Inning Thriller in Tuscaloosa
The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Alabama State collided in an 11‑inning contest at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final out.
Starter Brennan Phillips gave the Cowboys a solid foundation, limiting the visitors to two runs over six innings while fanning seven batters. A sixth‑inning surge by Alabama State trimmed the lead to 6‑5, but the game remained tightly contested.
The deadlock held through the ninth and tenth frames, with both sides trading runs to force a tie at 7‑7. In the eleventh, Oklahoma State seized the moment, capitalizing on a timely hit that set up the game‑winning blast.
Kollin Ritchie’s 30th home run of the season cracked the tie, driving the ball deep enough to put the Cowboys ahead. The homer marked Ritchie as the fourth player in school history to reach the 30‑home‑run milestone and the first since 1999 to do so.
Reliever Mario Pesca shut the door, working the final 3 ⅔ innings and striking out four to earn the win. His composure under pressure was a key factor in the Cowboys’ comeback.
Colin Brueggemann added a grand slam and a double to his stat line, moving into ninth place on OSU’s all‑time lists with 52 career home runs and 204 RBIs.
Looking ahead, the Cowboys will meet the loser of the Alabama versus USC Upstate matchup in the next round, hoping to carry the momentum from a night filled with clutch performances and dramatic swings.