The Kansas State baseball team’s first series in the Big 12 Conference ended in a less than favorable manner when the Wildcats were swept 3-0 by Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this weekend.
On Friday, the series opener, it was a competitive game between the Wildcats and the Cowboys, with K-State down 5-3 going into the eighth inning.
K-State had previously taken an early lead when sophomore Zach Kokoska sent a ball over the fence in the second inning, but that was the only lead the Wildcats had in the game.
The Wildcats made the score 5-4 in the top of the eighth inning when sophomore Terrence Spurlin reached first base on a fielder’s choice that allowed junior Cameron Thompson to score.
But in the bottom half of the inning, the Cowboys responded with six runs to extend their lead to 11-4, giving themselves a comfortable lead to carry through the rest of the game. The Cowboys would go on to win the game with that score.
On Saturday, game two of the series, the Wildcats were much closer to a win, but once again came up short as Oklahoma State won the game 5-4.
It was the Cowboys that took the first lead in this game; Oklahoma State’s junior Colin Simpson hit an RBI double to right field.
K-State responded in the top of the second inning as junior Caleb Littlejim walked with the bases loaded, but that’s all the Wildcats were able to get from that opportunity.
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Oklahoma State made it a two-run game again with a home run in the bottom of the third inning.
The Wildcats were able to tie the game up at 3-3 with a run in both the fourth and fifth inning, and they took the lead 4-3 in the sixth inning. But it was the Cowboys that got the last laugh in this one as they tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning and scored the winning run in the eighth inning.
On Sunday, the final game of the series, the Cowboys completed the sweep. For the second time in the series, the Wildcats took the first lead of the game with two runs in the top of the first inning. The Cowboys responded in the bottom half of the inning with a run, but the Wildcats held onto the lead.
Both teams mustered two runs in the second inning, giving the Wildcats a 4-3 lead. K-State seemed to be ready to avoid the sweep, but the Cowboys hung right with them and kept themselves in the game.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cowboys scored four runs, two of them coming off a home run. The Cowboys then held a 7-4 lead for a while and put themselves in a good position for the sweep.
Oklahoma State then added an “insurance” run in the seventh inning with another home run to right field.
Ultimately, K-State couldn’t fire back, and the Cowboys won the game 8-4 with a series sweep over the Wildcats.
K-State’s record dropped to 11-13 overall and 0-3 in conference play. The Wildcats will play Wichita State on the road at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
