February 13, 1999

STILLWATER, Okla. - Shortstop Billy Gasparino hit two home runs for the second game in a row as No. 20 Oklahoma State (2-0) outslugged Wisconsin-Milwaukee (0-1) en route to a 13-9 win in baseball action Saturday afternoon at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

The Cowboys and Panthers scored early and often before Oklahoma State broke the game open in the seventh. With the bases loaded in the seventh and the Pokes holding a slim 9-8 advantage, catcher Josh Holliday hit a sacrifice fly to leftfield giving the Cowboys a 10-8 lead. Freshman outfielder Michael Lorsbach followed that with a two-RBI single which pushed the OSU lead to 12-8.

Starting pitcher Matt Smith moved to 2-0 on the season after pitching a scheduled four innings and gave up one earned run on six hits while striking out eight.

Reliever Rusty Rushing picked up the save in his first-ever appearance for Oklahoma State. He pitched the final three innings and gave up one run on four hits while striking out four.

Gasparino ended the day going 2-for-2 with two homers, four RBIs and four runs scored. In two games, the senior from Tampa, Fla. is hitting .833 with four home runs and 10 RBI's.

"I feel good that we swung the bat well today. Mike Lorsbach came up with a clutch hit himself and he should get credit for the big hit of the game," said Gasparino.

Head coach Tom Holliday was impressed with Gasparino's hot bat, but also felt that the pitching isn't where he wants it to be.

"It's a nice start for Billy. He is getting good pitches and hitting them where he is supposed to. He is swinging the bat well and it is really nice to have a three-hole guy come out and establish some power," said Holliday.

"From a pitching standpoint we are not where we want to be yet. Obviously when you give up nine runs, something is missing. It really speeds up the maturing process when you have to have a slugfest at home, but the bottom line is we came out and got the win," Holliday said.

The Cowboys will play Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the finale of the two-game series Sunday at noon. Scheduled to pitch for Oklahoma State will be junior righthander Thom Dreier.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee 1 2 0  0 1 4  0 1 0    -  9
Oklahoma State      1 3 1  2 2 0  3 1 X    - 13

Sadowski, Gould (5), Clemmons (6) and Ludwig; M. Smith, Kelly (5), Rushing (7) and Holliday

W - M. Smith 2-0. L-Sadowski 0-1.
Sv - Rushing (1).
HRs-Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Haugom (1), Sadowski (1) Oklahoma State, Gasparino 2 (4), Lucas (1).