Oklahoma baseball capped off their weekend series against Kansas State on Sunday in a rubber match after the two teams split a doubleheader on Saturday.
With the gauntlet of the Big 12 schedule, it’s likely both teams felt this was an opportunity they needed to seize to get a series win. Unfortunately for the Sooners, the team to do just that was wearing purple.
Getting the start for Oklahoma was Jaret Godman, who has spent the bulk of his Sooners career in the bullpen and has resided there as one of the team’s better relievers throughout the season. He wouldn’t be at his best, being removed with two outs in the third inning after allowing five hits and two runs. He would go on to get a no decision.
Oklahoma, however, was the first team to get on the scoreboard with an RBI single by catcher Jimmy Crooks in the opening frame to put them ahead 1-0. The Wildcats would proceed to work two runs off of Godman in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 edge that they would hold into the fifth.
The Sooners would get the lead back at that point on a run-scoring knock from center fielder Tanner Tredaway and a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Jace Bohrofen. But, their 3-2 lead would not last for long.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kansas State would strike for four runs off of right-hander Luke Taggart (1-4) to assume a 6-3 advantage. They would tack on two more runs in the following inning off of Carson Carter (both unearned) to make it an 8-3 lead heading to the late innings.
From there, the score would hold with the Oklahoma bats going quiet and unable to muster any more offense. Wildcats right-hander Tyler Eckberg was dominant after entering in the fifth inning allowing just two total hits and no runs over four innings pitched. Right-hander Kasey Ford would lock things down in the final frame putting the Sooners down in order with a pair of strikeouts.
The loss dips Oklahoma to 19-17 overall and 4-8 in Big 12 play with a series loss that will certainly sting given the circumstances. For a team trying to climb back into the NCAA Tournament picture, losing a road series to another team trying to do the same is a missed opportunity. The fact that team is also coached by former Sooners signal caller Pete Hughes certainly adds a little frustration as well.
There is still baseball to be played and certainly everything is still on the table, but time is starting to become a factor for the team in trying to improve their resume enough to get consideration for a postseason bid. They have to find way to start stockpiling wins – and fast.
After a day off tomorrow, Oklahoma will do battle with Texas Tech in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday night in Amarillo, Texas.