Holliday Empties the Dugout in Big 12 Championship as Pokes Had Regional Host Clinched
(Pokes Report publisher Robert Allen contributed to this story that originated with Oklahoma State University athletic media relations and Wade McWhorter.)
ARLINGTON, Texas – Oklahoma State’s Big 12 Championship run ended with a 12-5 loss to TCU in the tournament’s title game Sunday at Globe Life Field. With the loss, the 12th-ranked Cowboys fell to 41-18. OSU will host an NCAA Regional at O’Brate Stadium beginning Friday as the Pokes will be making their 10th-straight NCAA tourney appearance and 48th overall.
The Cowboys got out of Arlington and the Big 12 Tournament what they came for. The opportunity to host a regional and Josh Holliday did not want to risk anything towards competing next week in the NCAA. Holliday literally emptied the bench even pitching Riley Taylor, a classy walk-on that has graduated and made his first game appearance in the title game to the delight of his teammates.
Oklahoma State and O'Brate Stadium are one of 16 Regional sites for the 2023 NCAA Baseball Championship, and the Cowboys will host the NCAA Stillwater Regional June 2-5.
This marks the Cowboys' 10th consecutive Regional berth under head coach Josh Holliday; they have never missed the NCAA tourney during his tenure. Oklahoma State has the fourth most NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.
This season also marks the second-straight year the Cowboys have been a Regional host and fifth time under Holliday, with the previous times in 2014, 2015, 2019 (hosted in Oklahoma City due to unplayable field conditions in Stillwater).
The remaining three teams in the NCAA Stillwater Regional will be announced Monday at 11 a.m. when the NCAA Baseball Championship field of 64 is revealed on ESPN2.
Nolan Schubart led OSU with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate that included a home run and four RBIs, while Roc Riggio and Mendham also had two hits apiece for the Cowboys.
OSU used six pitchers in the game. Ben Abram took the loss to fall to 8-3 on the season as he allowed four runs on four hits while striking out three in two innings of work.
TCU (37-22) scored four runs in both the second and third innings to take control. The big blow in the second came on a three-run home run by Luke Boyers, and the Horned Frogs rallied with six hits in the third frame to double their lead.
The Cowboys trimmed their deficit in the bottom of the third. After loading the bases with no outs, Schubart drew an RBI walk before Wulfert brought home a run on a fielder’s choice. A double play ended the inning with OSU trailing 8-2.
TCU increased its lead to 10-2 before the Pokes cut into the lead again with their final runs of the game, which came on a three-run homer by Schubart. The blast was the freshman’s 16th of the season.
OSU placed three on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team – David Mendham (1B), Marcus Brown (SS) and Brennan Phillips (SP).
As for hosting the Regional again, O'Brate Stadium, which opened in 2021, has a capacity of 8,000. The Cowboys rank 11th in the NCAA in average home attendance this season at 5,064 fans per game.
The Cowboys will be seeking to advance to the sixth Super Regional in program history (1999, 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2019).
OSU Baseball season ticket holders have an opportunity to reserve their seats for the Regional prior to Wednesday, with the remaining tickets going on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Reserved tickets will be all-session tickets with single sessions available on gameday at the O'Brate Stadium ticket windows. Prices for all-session tickets start at $60.
Tickets for the NCAA Stillwater Regional can be purchased online at tickets.okstate.com/baseball/ or by calling the OSU Athletics Ticket Office at 877-255-4678. The ticket office will be closed Monday for Memorial Day.