Cowboys win Bedlam finale as Osmond pitches gem
STILLWATER — With thousands of fans standing and applauding, Bryce Osmond left the mound and lifted the classic Oklahoma State logo on his orange jersey.
Like he had seen in an eight-yearold clip earlier this week.
That day in 2014, the Cowboys secured a Big 12 regular-season title with a walk-off win over rival OU. They all pulled the logo on their jersey signifying their unity.
Osmond — in his third year — loved the celebration.
And it was fitting he raised the classic logo as his teammates waited to mob him Sunday afternoon in the seventh.
“This team, I think, really embodies that as well,” Osmond said, “because it’s a ton of different individuals but collectively we’re Oklahoma State. I’m proud to be part of the team.”
A big Bedlam series victory was all but complete as he exited to the standing ovation.
Osmond had delivered his best performance in orange and black, six dominant innings on a day that belonged to him in a convincing 9-4 victory over the Sooners to clinch the Big 12 Bedlam series with a second straight win.
And it was certainly sweetened for a kid who grew up in Jenks watching moments like he lived.
“I remember going to the Bedlam series growing up,” Osmond said. “It’s really fun to be wearing the orange and black now and go out with this win and play the way we did now.”
OSU (23-9, 7-2 Big 12) is now 29-11 against OU under coach Josh Holliday.
Osmond allowed just one earned run — charged after he left the game in the seventh — on five hits and three walks. He matched a season high with eight strikeouts, throwing 60 of his 100 pitches for strikes.
His fastball had life. His breaking balls kept the Sooners offense off
balance. And a new sinker showed tremendous promise.
“That was fun to almost put that in my back pocket,” Osmond said. “I haven't had that pitch. It hasn't moved like it was. I'd like to keep that going forward.”
With the new-found pitch keeping the Sooners off balance, the Cowboys' offense scored eight runs in the first six innings.
And it got life from star Nolan McLean, who blasted a three-run homer in the second.
It was his second home run in as many at-bats. He later singled and walked. He also flew out to the centerfield wall.
“It's always good to contribute,” McLean said. “I've been struggling a little bit lately, kinda all year. But I'm just trying to do what I can at this point to help the team win.”
That was really the cushion Osmond needed.
Each time the Sooners (18-12, 4-5) got a runner on, he answered. They had a hit in each of the first four innings, including two doubles. But Osmond worked out of trouble each time.
In the fifth, he walked Jackson Nicklaus with one out and then picked off the speedy lead-off hitter, shifting the momentum of the inning.
And as the Cowboys' offense got going with eight runs in the first six innings, Osmond got stronger.
He retired six of the final eight batters he faced, only exiting after allowing a lead-off double to Cade Horton in the seventh.
It was a complete turnaround from last season's Bedlam struggles, when Osmond allowed seven runs in four innings against the Sooners.
“I thought that was probably Bryce's best outing in a Cowboy uniform,” Holliday said, “especially after last year.”
That was a moment of growth for Osmond. And there was reason to celebrate.
“I want to say today was a big step forward for him,” Holliday said. “I'm very proud of him.”