Cowboys Baseball Opens Season with Loss to Arkansas

Oklahoma State falls 12-2 to No. 5 Arkansas in season opener at Globe Life Field

Feb. 14, 2026 at 8:47pm

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The Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team opened their 2026 season with a 12-2 loss to the 5th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Starting pitcher Hudson Barrett took the loss for the Cowboys, working 4 2/3 innings and giving up six runs, three of them earned. Garrett Shull provided the lone offensive highlight for OSU with a two-run home run in the 5th inning, but the Cowboys struck out 15 times in the game that ended via run-rule in the 8th inning.

Why it matters

This loss marks a tough start to the season for the Cowboys, who are looking to build on their success under head coach Josh Holliday. The team will need to rebound quickly as they face an early-season Bedlam rivalry matchup against Oklahoma on Saturday, followed by a game against #23 Vanderbilt on Sunday.

The details

The Razorbacks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a two-run homer by Ryder Helfrick in the 1st inning and a solo shot by Helfrick in the 3rd. Shull's two-run blast in the 5th cut the deficit to 3-2, but Arkansas answered with three more runs in the bottom half of the inning to pull away. The Cowboys were limited to just six hits on the night.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The Bedlam rivalry matchup against Oklahoma is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.
  • The game against #23 Vanderbilt is scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.

The players

Josh Holliday

The head coach of the Oklahoma State baseball team, in his 13th season leading the Cowboys.

Hudson Barrett

The starting pitcher for Oklahoma State, who took the loss after working 4 2/3 innings and giving up six runs.

Garrett Shull

The Oklahoma State batter who hit a two-run home run in the 5th inning to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Ryder Helfrick

The Arkansas batter who hit a two-run homer in the 1st inning and a solo shot in the 3rd to help the Razorbacks build an early lead.

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What they’re saying

“We have to put this one behind us and get ready for the big rivalry game tomorrow. There's a lot of season left and we're confident we can bounce back.”

— Josh Holliday, Head Coach, Oklahoma State Baseball

What’s next

The Cowboys will look to even their record on Saturday when they face their in-state rival Oklahoma in the second game of the Shriner's Children's College Showdown at 3 p.m. They will then wrap up the weekend with a matchup against #23 Vanderbilt on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.

The takeaway

This season-opening loss is a tough start for the Cowboys, but they have a chance to quickly bounce back with two more games this weekend against high-profile opponents. How the team responds to this early setback will be crucial as they look to build momentum heading into the heart of their schedule.