Oklahoma State baseball defeated the OU Sooners earlier in the week, but have poor Game 2 & 3 showing against Kansas this weekend - lose series 2-1 in Stillwater.
Will Cowboy Baseball make the postseason?
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State baseball dropped a tough Big 12 series to Kansas this past weekend, falling 2 games to 1 at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater.
The Cowboys entered the weekend with momentum after a midweek Bedlam victory over rival Oklahoma, defeating the Sooners 7-3 in a weather shortened game at ONEOK Field in Tulsa on April 14.
Powered by four home runs in that matchup, including contributions from Campbell Smithwick and Kollin Ritchie, OSU improved to 23-14 overall before hosting the Jayhawks. But the series against No. 21 Kansas proved to be a tale of one strong start followed by an offensive collapse.
The series opener on Friday, April 17, was delayed by inclement weather and resumed Saturday afternoon. Once play continued, Oklahoma State’s offense exploded for a 13-2 victory in eight innings.
The Cowboys jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, racking up 11 hits and capitalizing on multiple home runs. Brock Thompson went deep twice early in the contest, while Campbell Smithwick launched a three run homer in the eighth to help invoke the run-rule.
Starting pitcher Stormy Rhodes earned the win (2-2), scattering just six hits over his outing. It was a complete team effort that led the Cowboys’ to a 1-0 series lead heading into the weekend’s remaining games.
After that promising Game 1 performance, however, Oklahoma State’s bats and scoring completely disappeared. The Jayhawks had their way with the Cowboys, obliterating them in Games 2 and 3 with close out pitching and great hitting.
In Game 2 on Saturday evening, Kansas erupted for a 13-3 blowout. The Jayhawks piled on 14 hits and took control with multi-run innings in the third, fourth, fifth, and eighth. Tyson LeBlanc provided a highlight with a solo homer in the sixth, while Dominic Voegele (4-2) dominated on the mound for Kansas, limiting OSU to just three hits all game.
Oklahoma State managed only a brief rally in the fourth inning but could not sustain any momentum. Mario Pesca took the loss (4-3) for the Cowboys, as the offense managed just three hits total, an alarming sign after the previous day’s outburst.
Sunday’s series finale saw more of the same offensive woes for OSU in a 9-6 defeat. The Cowboys actually held a 4-1 lead through four innings thanks to RBI doubles and solid early hitting from players like Smithwick and Ritchie. But Kansas responded with a massive five-run fifth inning, capped by a grand slam from Dariel Osoria that flipped the script and gave the Jayhawks a commanding lead they would not see disappear.
OSU added a few more runs late, including an RBI double from Smithwick in the seventh, but the bullpen could not contain Kansas’ lineup.
Ritter (5-1) picked up the win for KU, with Boede Rahe earning the save. Drew Blake took the loss in relief for the Cowboys.
The series loss drops Oklahoma State to 8-10 in Big 12 play and 24-16 overall. The Cowboys currently sit in the middle of a crowded and competitive conference standings, with Kansas improving to 14-4 and solidifying its position among the league leaders.
Head coach Josh Holliday, now in his 15th season leading the program he once played for, addressed the inconsistency in post series press conferences.
Holliday emphasized mental toughness and the need for the offense to regain its rhythm, noting the team’s early-season conference hole but expressing confidence in their ability to respond.
Under Holliday, OSU has established itself as a consistent NCAA Tournament contender with a history of developing MLB talent and making deep postseason runs, including multiple College World Series appearances.
This weekend’s offensive drought, however, highlighted areas for immediate improvement as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Up next for the Cowboys is a midweek non-conference game against Wichita State on Tuesday before a challenging road series at Texas Tech in Lubbock this coming weekend (April 24-26). Texas Tech has been competitive in league play, and Oklahoma State will need to rediscover its scoring and pitching consistency to climb back into postseason hopefuls.