Fourth-Inning Grand Slam Lifts No. 11 Oklahoma State Over WVU to Even Series

A fourth-inning grand slam by third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand was the defining moment Saturday night as No. 11 Oklahoma State defeated West Virginia 7-2 in the second game of the teams’ weekend series.

Encarnacion-Strand’s slam was the knockout punch for OSU (17-7-1, 4-3 Big 12) over West Virginia (11-10), putting the Cowboys up 6-0 over the Mountaineers in the fourth inning. WVU reliever Noah Short surrendered the home run, but it was starter Adam Tulloch (0-2, 7.40) who had loaded the basses beforehand.

OSU takes a 6-0 lead with a grand slam off the bat of Christian Encarnacion.

Cowboys looking good against the Mountaineers in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/QA9MfaKHvk

— Ben Hutchens (@Ben_Hutchens01) April 3, 2021

Tulloch’s final line was 3 1/3 innings pitched, six hits, five runs, four earned, with four walks and five strikeouts. Opposite him was OSU freshman Justin Campbell (3-0, 0.68), who pitched seven innings of one-run ball with six punchouts.

The Mountaineers threatened a late comeback, getting runners on base in each of the final four innings, but was never able to put a big inning together in the loss.

WVU’s offense was led by first baseman Hudson Byorick, who went 3 for 4 with two doubles and a home run, one RBI and a run scored. Encarnacion-Strand finished 3 for 5 with four RBI for the Cowboys.

WVU and OSU will play the series finale Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.