OSU’s inconsistency interrupted a strong week

STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State baseball team bookended its week with a pair of offensive eruptions, but suffered two losses in between to open Big 12 play.

The Cowboys totaled 30 runs in their two victories, including a rout of OU in the season’s nonconference edition of Bedlam.

But overall, inconsistency was the theme of the week as the Cowboys dive deeper into conference action.

Here’s a look at what we learned about OSU last week:

Big finale in Florida

After getting held to just five runs over the first two games at Central Florida, OSU found its offense quickly on Sunday, scoring seven runs in the second inning. Five of the runs came on homers by Jaxson Crull and Aidan Meola.

It was the second straight game with a home run for Meola, who drove in five runs. His return from a brief injury two weeks ago has opened up some flexibility in the middle of the infield for coach Josh Holliday.

Meola has split time between designated hitter and second base, while Lane Forsythe — who also missed games with a recent injury — and freshman Avery Ortiz have seen action at shortstop and second base.

All three are batting .320 or better and they’ve combined for six home runs and 35 RBIs.

Bedlam Brueggemann

OSU first baseman Colin Brueggemann played a big part in Sunday’s 16run outburst, going 3 for 5 with four RBIs. And he added the exclamation point in the Bedlam victory with a massive solo home run over the 410-foot sign in left-center field at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

Brueggemann’s Bedlam bomb should not surprise anyone, however. The junior from Smithton, Illinois, had four hits in his first four Bedlam games last year, and three went for home runs.

Now through five career Bedlams, he is 5 for 16 with four home runs, six runs scored and seven RBIs.

Brian Holiday strong again

With the start of Big 12 play, consistency from starting pitchers will be critical, and the Cowboys have identified the anchor of the weekend rotation.

Brian Holiday turned in yet another strong effort, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk over eight innings.

He left the game with the Cowboys leading 3-2, though UCF tied the game with a solo home run off OSU reliever Gabe Davis.

Through his five starts, Holiday has a 1.83 ERA with 37 strikeouts and eight walks over 34 1⁄ innings pitched. Oppo

3 nents are batting just .178 against him.

SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN Oklahoma State’s Colin Brueggemann (12) reacts after a grand slam against the University of Oklahoma in Norman in 2023.