STILLWATER, Okla. – BYU baseball closed out its series with Oklahoma State, falling by a score of 8-3 on Saturday.
"Today the difference was Oklahoma State got big hits when they needed to and we didn't," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "We had a chance to open up a lead with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth and only managed one run. In similar situations they were able to get a couple extra base hits and extend the lead.
"I felt like we played a very solid three-game series but obviously didn't swing the bats like we know we are capable. I do believe we got better this weekend and will be ready going into league play next week."
Game Summary
- With the game tied 1-1 in the fifth, Oklahoma State scored three runs in the bottom of the inning, then four additional unanswered runs over the next two innings to pull away
- BYU scored a run in the fifth, eighth and ninth
- Seven pitchers went to the mound for the Cougars
Player Highlights
- Austin Deming: 2-4, 2B, RBI
- Abraham Valdez: 2-3, 2B, R, BB
- Hobbs Nyberg: 1-5, 2B, R
Oklahoma State was the first to score, using a walk, a stolen base and a double to bring around a run in the bottom of the third.
A lead-off double by Abraham Valdez followed by a single from Mitch McIntyre and Brock Watkins getting hit by a pitch set up the Cougars with bases loaded and nobody out. Andrew Pintar’s fly ball to center almost dropped, but a diving catch by the Cowboys allowed just Valdez to score on the tag. Two subsequent outs left the runners stranded and the game tied.
Oklahoma State took no time responding in the bottom of the same inning, putting runners on the corners. A triple scored two runs and a double added another to put OSU back on top, 4-1.
The Cowboys added another run in the sixth and three more on a bases-loaded double in the seventh to extend the lead to 8-1.
In the eighth, BYU’s Austin Deming doubled down the left field line with two on and one out to score Hobbs Nyberg, but the Cougars again left two stranded to end the inning.
An RBI-single by Bryan Call tacked on another Cougar run in the ninth for the final 8-3 margin.
BYU returns home to Provo for its next series, opening West Coast Conference play by welcoming LMU, March 12-14. First pitch on Thursday will be at 6 p.m. MT with the game airing on the BYUtv app, BYU Radio 107.9 FM and ESPN960 AM.