Vermilion’s Andy Oliver pitched solid and helped Oklahoma State defeat top-seeded Clemson, 3-2, Saturday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

The first 6 ½ innings was a pitching duel between Oliver and Clemson's Casey Harman as both southpaws kept their opponents scoreless.

Oliver took a shut out into the eighth inning, but was relieved after giving up back-to-back RBI singles as Clemson tied the game at 2. Oliver allowed just the two runs on eight hits. He also had six strikeouts and allowed only one walk. He escaped damage through the middle innings with some big pitches and Oklahoma‘s strong defense, which turned two double plays.

The third-seeded Cowboys (41-20) now head into the NCAA Clemson Regional championship round to face the winner of Sunday’s Clemson-Tennessee Tech game.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

STILLWATER, Oklahoma — Vermilion's Andy Oliver evened his pitching record at 5-5 after striking out nine batters, in an Oklahoma State 5-3 loss to Kansas State last Friday night at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Oklahoma.

"I felt good," Oliver said. "Going out there after the fourth inning, I felt pretty comfortable. I was just going to go as many innings as I could, and I felt fine. Things just didn’t go our way."

Oliver allowed nine hits but struck out nine and didn’t walk any in 8 2/3 innings. The No. 16 Wildcats were able to find success against him, scoring two runs in each the third and fourth innings.

OSU coach Frank Anderson said he thought Oliver pitched well after the fifth inning, but decided to pull Oliver with two outs in the top of the ninth.

"He was at a pitch limit," OSU coach Frank Anderson said. "I wanted him to face through the left-hander, and after that, I thought it was a situation where there is no need for him to go more right there and get somebody out ... I thought obviously he was better from the fifth on."

The Cowboys are currently 30-21 and still have a chance of qualify for the Big 12 Championships. They'll have to sweep Texas Tech and Nebraska will have to sweep Baylor for OSU to qualify.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

STILLWATER, Okla. - Vermilion's Andy Oliver fell to 4-3, as he allowed six runs on seven hits in seven innings. His downfall - a five-run second inning that doomed his Oklahoma State Cowboys in a 7-2 loss to No. 9 Texas at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium Friday night.

The nightmare inning all came with two outs, as Oliver retired the first two batters of the inning, before allowing a double, a walk and a three-run homerun. That was followed with a solo homer, and an RBI double. When it was all done, Texas (15-5, 9-9) took a 5-0 lead.

The loss was OSU’s second straight in Big 12 Conference play as the Cowboys fell to 3-4 in the league and 20-9 overall.

He finished with four walks and three strikeouts.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

STILLWATER, Okla. — Vermilion’s Andy Oliver, who is considered one of the top pitchers in the nation, improved his record to 4-2, as he pitched seven innings in a 13-1 run-rule win for Oklahoma State over Missouri on Sunday.

With plenty of offensive support, Oliver cruised on the mound to improve to 4-2 on the season. The junior southpaw allowed just one run on four hits while striking out 10. The 10 strikeouts were just one shy of his career high.

In 38 2/3 innings (as of 5-2-09), Oliver has struck out 50 batters.

The Cowboys improved to 19-7 overall and are ranked 17th in the nation. They are also 3-2 in the Big 12 and tied its longest winning streak of the season with its fifth-straight win.

swalker@MorningJournal.com