By Karen Mitchell

If he didn’t know it before, Rob Zastryzny now knows the meaning of the saying, “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

After pitching eight innings, including get out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, Zastryzny left the game with a 3-2 lead over Oklahoma State. Just three more outs and he’d have the win.

Jake Walsh came in to close. He struck out the first Cowboys batter, lead-off hitter Jarrett Higgins. Then the next batter, Jared Womack got a hit to right and then Robbie Rea flew out to center.

Then Mark Ginther stepped up to the plate.

With two outs and one on base, Ginther laced a home run to left-center field, giving the Cowboys the 4-2 lead. Missouri was unable to score in the bottom of the ninth and just that quickly Zastryzny’s eight innings of work, including 12 strikeouts, did not translate to a win for the Tigers.

Walsh got the loss for his one inning of work, Zastryzny earned the no decision.

As if to avenge that loss, 45 minutes later Missouri recorded three runs in the first inning of the second game and another in the fourth to beat the Cowboys 4-1. Starting pitcher Blake Holovach went eight and two-thirds innings for the win. Missouri is now 13-8 for the season and Oklahoma State is 13-9.

The third game in the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.

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