Ginther, Jones Lead Cowboys To 6-4 Win

In a back-and-forth battle Wednesday afternoon, the Oklahoma State Cowboys won its fifth straight game with a 6-4 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

After the Lions tied the game in the top of the sixth, Mark Ginther blasted his second home run of the ballgame in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-4 lead. Later that inning, Wes Jones smacked a double to left to score another run to make it 6-4.

Jones and Ginther paced the Cowboys as both went 2-for-4 with two RBI. two hits and two RBI on the game. Ginther smashed a pair of solo home runs, while Jones drove in his runs with two doubles. Ginther's two homers makes him the fourth Cowboys with at least three home runs this season.

Oklahoma State is now 11-7 on the year including a 10-1 mark on the home field.

Vince Wheeland earned the first win of his OSU career with three innings of scoreless relief as the sophomore righty allowed just two hits and struck out four. Gabe Weidenaar recorded his first save of the year and retired the only batter to help OSU to the victory.

The Golden Lions (1-16-1) took an early lead with a run in the second inning against OSU starter Blake Barnes. Sean Samsa tripled with one out, and an RBI groundout by Lucas Fortino gave Arkansas-Pine Bluff a 1-0 lead.

OSU took to the bats in the bottom of the frame as Jones stepped to the plate and managed an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1 before Robbie Rea scored the go-ahead run on a balk.

UAPB's Soloman Williams hit a two-RBI triple to put the Golden Lions up 3-2 in the top of the third, but OSU responded once again.

In the bottom of the frame, Zach Fish followed a triple by Jared Womack with a game-tying sacrifice fly, and Ginther followed that with his first homer of the day over the left field wall.

The Cowboys' lead held until the sixth. Kyle Bagnell replaced Barnes on the mound and got the second out of the inning on a popup, but UAPB's Wheeland came on and knocked a single to shallow center field that tied the score at 4-4.

Oklahoma State took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Ginther led off with his second long ball to left, and three batters later, Jones brought Weidenaar home with the Cowboys' sixth run.

OSU will next host Houston for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.