Oklahoma State baseball dropped a tough 2-1 series to Kansas State in Manhattan, outclassed in the first two games before a gritty 13-inning fight secured the finale
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MANHATTAN, KS — Oklahoma State baseball suffered a 2-1 series loss to Kansas State this weekend in Manhattan, Kansas, at Tointon Family Stadium.
The Cowboys, who had secured a series victory the previous weekend, were outclassed in the first two games as the Wildcats had some great pitching and hitting.
Oklahoma State avoided the sweep with a hard-fought 12-10 victory in 13 innings on Sunday, demonstrating much needed offensive fight in the extra frames.
Game 1: Friday, April 10 – Kansas State 11, Oklahoma State 3
Kansas State jumped ahead early and never looked back in the series opener. Dee Kennedy stole home in the first inning to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The purple cats exploded for five runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on walks, hits, and a throwing error by OSU. Kansas State added single runs in the sixth and seventh, including an RBI fielder’s choice from AJ Evasco.
James Guyette (5-1) dominated on the mound for K-State, striking out 12 Cowboys while allowing just three runs on five hits over his outing. Ethan Lund (3-1) took the loss for Oklahoma State, struggling as the Wildcats tallied 10 hits. Garrett Shull reached base on an error for OSU in the second, but the Cowboys could only reply with scattered offense and left seven runners on base. Kansas State improved to 22-12 overall and 6-7 in Big 12 play, while OSU fell to 21-13 and 6-7.
Game 2: Saturday, April 11 – Kansas State 13, Oklahoma State 9
The second game featured another collapse for the Cowboys after they built a substantial lead. Oklahoma State scored three in the first and added one in the third, with Kollin Ritchie and others contributing. Alex Conover and Saunders provided power, including a three-run homer by Saunders in the seventh that briefly extended the lead to 9-4 (scoring Ritchie and Meola as well).
Kansas State responded with two runs each in the fourth and fifth. Then the Wildcats went for nine unanswered runs, four in the seventh and five in the eighth, to erase the deficit and clinch the series. The Wildcats had 14 hits, with contributions from players like Madliak, Inoue, Vasquez, Smolinski, and Kendrick driving in runs during the rally.
Adam Arther (2-1) earned the win in relief, while Stormy Rhodes (1-2) took the loss for OSU after the bullpen faltered. Oklahoma State finished with nine hits and one error; Kansas State had 14 hits and one error. The win pushed K-State to 23-12 (7-7 Big 12) and dropped the Cowboys to 21-14 (6-8 Big 12).
Game 3: Sunday, April 12 – Oklahoma State 12, Kansas State 10 (13 innings)
Sunday’s finale turned into a marathon battle that showed a silver lining with Oklahoma State’s fight.
The Cowboys jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, but Kansas State answered with six runs in the second to seize momentum. OSU chipped away with a homer from Alex Conover in the second and additional runs scattered through the middle innings, including a Ritchie homer in one inning.
The game stayed competitive into extras, with both teams trading runs late (K-State added two in the seventh and one each in the eighth and ninth). Tied after nine, the teams traded zeros until the 13th inning. Oklahoma State pushed across two runs in the top of the 13th, capitalizing on a total of 16 hits for the game to secure the 12-10 victory.
Parker Jennings earned the win (1-0) in long relief, while Miles Smith took the loss (1-2) for the Wildcats. Standouts for OSU included Saunders (multiple hits and RBIs across the series, including the big homer Saturday), Conover, Ritchie, Meola, and Brueggemann for contributions.
Kansas State managed 14 hits but left key runners stranded in the extras. The win improved OSU to 22-14 (7-8 Big 12) and dropped K-State to 23-13 (7-7).
Despite winning the previous weekend’s series, Oklahoma State appeared outmatched in pitching depth and late-game execution during the first two contests in Manhattan. Sunday’s game provided a morale boost but could not overcome the series defeat.
Broader concerns linger around the program. Several college baseball media outlets and bracket projections have omitted Oklahoma State from early postseason and NCAA Tournament discussions, citing inconsistency in a deep Big 12 conference. Social media has featured criticism of head coach Josh Holliday, with some fans questioning decisions and the team’s ceiling amid high leverage struggles this season.
Holliday enters his 14th year with a strong legacy, including consistent NCAA appearances and a College World Series run, yet the current campaign has sparked debate about the program’s trajectory.
The Cowboys return to action quickly with a midweek matchup against in-state rival Oklahoma on Tuesday, April 14, at ONEOK Field in Tulsa. They then host the Kansas Jayhawks for a three-game Big 12 series during the upcoming Orange Power Weekend in Stillwater (April 17-19).
That Saturday features a packed campus schedule: the Oklahoma State football spring game, a Cowgirl softball contest, and the baseball game against Kansas set for a 6 p.m. first pitch at O’Brate Stadium, followed by fireworks.
Oklahoma State will aim to rebound at home, tighten the bullpen, and reinsert themselves into the postseason conversation. With talented contributors like Saunders, Ritchie, Conover, and a deep lineup, the Cowboys possess the pieces for a strong finish if they address the vulnerabilities exposed in Manhattan this weekend.