The Cowboys entered their last regular‑season matchup against the Wildcats with a 34‑19 record, hoping to close the year on a high note, but the series opener slipped away with a 7‑4 defeat.
Two solo homers powered Oklahoma State’s scoring, as Danny Wallace and Evan Saunders each cleared the fence, while Arizona’s starter Luc Fladda silenced the opposition over five hitless frames.
Turning Point in the Ninth
The turning point arrived in the ninth, when Arizona loaded the bases against Mario Pesca, and a sacrifice fly coupled with a pair of insurance runs turned a tight contest into a two‑run deficit.
Earlier, starter Mario Pesca surrendered four runs in a single inning, and Hudson Barrett’s first‑inning walk forced in a run, but reliever Brennan Phillips managed to strand an inherited runner at second, keeping the game within reach.
Despite the setback, the Wildcats improved to 19‑32 overall and 9‑19 in conference play, while the Cowboys remain ranked 21st and will reconvene on Friday at 6 p.m. for the next meeting.