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After spending much of the past two seasons as OSU’s closer, Nolan McLean made his first career start on the mound in the Cowboys’ Bedlam win on Thursday. A one-run, five-strikeout outing through three innings not only showed McLean – still rehabbing from an unspecified leg injury suffered against Texas on April 1 – is progressing well, but he is also a starting option.

Carson Benge – OSU’s usual Day 3 starter – didn’t throw against the Sooners and will have nearly two weeks of rest coming into Arlington.

Sophomore righty and BYU transfer Janzen Keisel, junior Brian Hendry and redshirt freshman Drew Blake have starting experience this season, as well.

“We’re in a good spot,” Holliday said. “We had some guys step up (on the mound against OU) and we’ll take that and move forward.”

Breaking down the numbers

57: OSU’s win percentage away from O’Brate Stadium

The Cowboys hold a 12-9 record away from home. Five of those wins came against the likes of Kansas and Michigan – both outside the RPI top 100. Without those games, OSU is 6-7 in true road games.

5.19: OSU’s team ERA, good for the fifth best in the Big 12.

From 2014-16, when OSU made two Super Regional appearances and a College World Series, none of Holliday’s teams held an ERA exceeding 3.29. Even in 2019, another season with a Super Regional appearance, the team’s ERA was 4.08.

OSU’s starting rotation, consisting of Juaron Watts-Brown, Ben Abram and Carson Benge, holds a 5.38 cumulative ERA.

.307: OSU’s team batting average.

The Cowboys, led by Tyler Wulfert (.355), Roc Riggio (.354) and Carson Benge (.349), sit 24th in the country and second in the Big 12 in team batting average. OSU has recorded at least 10 hits in 14 of its last 17 games.

8.7: OSU’s runs-per-game average, good for 10th nationally.

The offense has had no shortage of runs, plating double-digit run totals in six of the past eight contests, averaging more than 12 runs.

99: Home runs this season sports.ed@ocolly.com

The Cowboys’ 99 homers rank 15th nationally. OSU is 6-7 in games without a home run, 7-3 when only one home run is hit and 24-6 with at least two homers in a game.