Despite a midweek loss to ORU, Oklahoma State baseball remains one of seven Big 12 teams projected for the NCAA Field of 64 and is gearing up for a crucial series against TCU to boost its tournament seeding and postseason path
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State Cowboy baseball suffered a tough midweek setback, falling 11-6 to Oral Roberts on Tuesday evening in Tulsa. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak and dropped the Cowboys to 28-17 overall and 11-10 in Big 12 play.
Despite the defeat, Oklahoma State remains firmly in the postseason conversation as one of seven Big 12 teams currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament’s Field of 64. Recent bracket projections have the Cowboys on the bubble but with a realistic path to hosting or traveling to a competitive regional, potentially opening postseason play in the Starkville Regional against a strong Mississippi State squad.
With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, every game carries significant weight for seeding and momentum.
The Cowboys will host TCU for a three-game Big 12 series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and wraps Sunday at 1 p.m. Specific Friday pitching matchups have not been officially announced by either program, though both teams are expected to turn to their Friday aces.
TCU frequently leans on veteran right-hander Tommy LaPour in the opener, while Oklahoma State will likely counter with one of its reliable weekend arms to set the tone.
In the Big 12 standings, Oklahoma State sits in a tie for sixth place at 11-10 (.524), two games behind TCU and West Virginia, who are among the teams at 13-8. Top contenders like Arizona State and others hold stronger records, but the conference remains tightly bunched.
The Cowboys’ remaining schedule includes this weekend’s series against TCU plus additional league games that will determine final seeding for the Big 12 Tournament, set for May 19-23 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.
As the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, Oklahoma State would likely open tournament play against a lower seed such as No. 10 or No. 11 (potentially Kansas State, Utah, or Cincinnati, depending on how the final weekend shakes out). A strong showing could propel the Cowboys into the quarterfinals against higher seeds like West Virginia or TCU.
Winning the Big 12 title remains a long shot but would guarantee an automatic NCAA bid and valuable momentum heading into regionals.
To secure better placement in the NCAA Tournament bracket, ideally a top-3 regional seed or hosting rights, Oklahoma State must finish the regular season strong. That means taking at least two of three from TCU this weekend and sweeping or splitting any remaining midweek and conference games to boost RPI and strength of schedule metrics.
Current projections place the Cowboys around the No. 30-32 line; climbing into the top 25-28 range would dramatically improve their path, avoiding early matchups against top national seeds and increasing the likelihood of advancing deeper into the 64-team field.
Head coach Josh Holliday’s squad has shown resilience all year, bouncing back routinely after tough losses. The pitching staff has been tested but remains a strength when healthy, and the lineup features power hitters who can change games quickly.
A hot streak entering the Big 12 Tournament could carry the Cowboys not only through conference play but into a memorable postseason run, one that echoes past regional hosting successes in Stillwater.
With 10 games left and the Big 12 title chase heating up, Oklahoma State is positioned to make noise. A successful series against TCU would not only improve their conference standing but also boost momentum for the Cowboys going down the final stretch of the regular season.
Postseason baseball in Stillwater or on the road is within reach and the next 10 games will decide how far this Cowboy team can really go.