Oklahoma State Holds Off Northwestern

Originally Published: Mar 5, 2010 5:11 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS -- Late-game heroics lifted Oklahoma State to a 7-5 win over Northwestern in the opening round of the Dairy Queen Classic.

OSU junior outfielder Nico Rosthenhausler hit a two-out, two-RBI single in the top of the ninth to put the Cowboys on top after they blew an early-game lead.

OSU got on the board first in the top of the first when Mark Ginther hit an RBI-triplethat brought Tom Belza home.

Oklahoma State did most of its work in the fifth inning to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Belza tripled to center to drive in one run and Ginther hit a two-run home run on the next at bat.

Ginther gave OSU a 5-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Northwestern answered with a five-run eighth inning to tie the game, due to some late-game pitching breakdowns. Starter Tyler Lyons cruised through seven innings, only allowing three hits, but two walks and a fly out ended his day in the eighth.

Don Lisi came out of the bullpen in relief, but loaded the bases with another walk and Northwestern’s Chris Lashment hit a ground-rule double to close the gap to 5-2.

Zach Morton hit a two-RBI single off of Matt Peck to pull within one and Quentin Williams followed with a game-tying single.

The Cowboys are back in action Saturday against host Minnesota.