Arakawa, Green Lift OSU

By Tim Ahrens

Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com

 

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Cowboys’ offense against St. John’s on Friday night was simple. Get Gage Green on base, and let small ball do the rest.

 

Green led off the top of the order, batting first in the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth innings. In four of those five at-bats, Green singled. And when Green got on base, it translated to runs for Oklahoma State.

 

OSU’s left-fielder set a career-high in hits and scored the game-winning run thanks to Tim Arakawa’s walkoff single in the ninth, lifting the Cowboys to a 5-4 win against the Red Storm at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

 

Green’s first three hits came on swinging through, but the last came on a bunt down the third-base line – a decision coach Josh Holliday fully credited to Green.

 

“I go up there every time looking for a way to get on,” Green said. “I saw the grass was damp, I saw the third baseman take a step back. Worst case [if I missed] it was 0-2.”

 

Green reached first on that bunt in the ninth, but an errant throw sailed past SJU’s first baseman Matt Harris. Green turned for second, giving the Cowboys the man on base they needed to win the game and avoid extras. If not for Green’s intuition, extras might have been required.

 

“Gage is one of those players who’s been here long enough, he’s worked so hard to become the player that he is,” Holliday said. “He has an absolute, no-doubt mentality. He sees it, he does it. … He’s just a fearless player, and those are so hard to get nowadays.”

 

The Pokes entered the ninth inning with a 4-3 lead, but surrendered it when they were unable to turn a double play to end the game. Michael Donadio beat the throw to first by a step, and pinch runner Ty Blankmeyer crossed home plate to force the bottom of the ninth.

 

However, Arakawa had different plans when he came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. On an 0-2 pitch, he lined it over Robert Wayman’s head at second and into the outfield to score Green.

 

“It’s up there, definitely,” Arakawa said. “The atmosphere we have with Allie P., sold out, basically … That’s what you live for as a kid. Those are the baseball games you want to be a part of, a walkoff in the ninth inning.”

The Red Storm will face Oral Roberts in an elimination game Saturday at noon, while an intense matchup has been set in the nightcap. Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and All-American Michael Freeman will take the mound for the Cowboys at 6 p.m., facing Arkansas and Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of the Year, Andrew Benintendi.