Oklahoma State baseball bounces back after bad prior weekend against UCF — Takes rubber match game three from Baylor to win weekend series, 2-1
STILLWATER, Okla. — After a disappointing 0-3 series sweep against UCF the previous weekend, the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team needed a strong response in their first Big 12 home series of 2026.
The Pokes delivered, earning a 2-1 victory over the Baylor Bears at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater from March 20-22. The Cowboys improved to 16-8 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12, while Baylor fell to 12-11 and 2-4 in conference play.
In Friday’s opener, Baylor took a 6-4 win. Oklahoma State built a 4-2 lead behind Kollin Ritchie’s two-run home run in the third inning (his 14th of the season, scoring Brock Thompson) and Colin Brueggemann’s two-run double in the fifth.
Baylor answered with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and three unearned runs in the seventh to pull ahead for good. Ethan Lund turned in a strong start for the Cowboys with 10 strikeouts over six innings, but Stormy Rhodes took the loss in relief.
For Baylor, Brady Janusek hit a solo homer, and Caleb Bunch recorded the save with six strikeouts in three scoreless innings of relief.
Saturday featured the Salute to Service game as the Cowboys debuted special Folds of Honor uniforms. Folds of Honor founder Lt. Col. Dan Rooney threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Oklahoma State responded on the field with a 5-3 victory to even the series. Aidan Meola launched a solo home run in the second (his 8th of the season), Brock Thompson followed with a two-run homer in the third (his 4th), and Garrett Shull added a solo shot in the fifth (his 3rd).
Alex Conover delivered an RBI double in the seventh for insurance. Mario Pesca earned the win (2-2), allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts, and Stormy Rhodes picked up his first save of the season.
The Cowboys clinched the series Sunday with a 13-6 victory, as the bats got hot early.
The Cowboys scored four runs in the first inning, starting with Sebastian Norman’s two-run double, and added five in the fourth and four more in the sixth.
Campbell Smithwick provided a solo home run in the sixth (his 3rd) and finished with three RBI. Zane Burns earned his first win in relief.
Baylor was led by Travis Sanders’ two-run home run (his first of the season) in the third and Brady Janusek’s three hits, including a triple and RBI.
This series win provided a critical bounce back for Oklahoma State after the tough UCF weekend and marked their first Big 12 series victory of the season.
The Cowboys showed improvement offensively across the weekend and received strong contributions from their bullpen in the final two games.
Up next, the Cowboys travel to Springfield for a midweek non-conference game against Missouri State on Tuesday, March 24, before heading to Provo for a three-game Big 12 series at BYU starting Thursday, March 26.