Baylor Baseball Drops Second Game of the Series to No. 8 Oklahoma State, 11-5

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (26-25, 7-16) dropped the second game of the series to No. 8 Oklahoma State (35-18, 14-9) on Friday night at Baylor Ballpark, 11-5.

For both teams, the first inning consisted of leadoff home runs, three hits, and starting pitchers throwing over 20 pitches. 

Baylor Athletics

Jack Pineda celebrates his leadoff home run

In the Bears' case, Jack Pineda took the ninth pitch of his at-bat 410 feet over the right-centerfield wall to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning. It was an impressive feat considering Justin Campbell, the Cowboy’s starter is projected to go in the first round of the upcoming MLB Draft in June. 

Throughout the night, Pineda continued to be a thorn in the side of Campbell. He led off the third inning with a sharp single into right field. Tre Richardson and Jared McKenzie both reached base to load the bases for Kyle Nevin. With no outs, Nevin, Antonio Valdez, and Beau Wimpee all struck out swinging to end the inning. Campbell completely overpowered the three Bears with his heater and the Baylor offense was unable to take advantage of a bases-loaded, no-outs opportunity because of it. 

After surrendering hits to the first three Cowboy batters, Grant Golomb settled down in his first career start and was really solid through four innings. Trouble arose in the fifth inning to tarnish an otherwise excellent outing from Golomb. A leadoff single and a four-pitch walk to the eight-hole hitter put runners on first and second with no outs. The Pokes were able to drive both runs in and chased Golomb out of the game. He finished with 4.2 IP and allowed 4 R, 4 ER, 6 H, BB, and 5 Ks on 70 pitches.

Mason Marriott entered in relief of Golomb and immediately gave up a two-run shot to the Pokes' best player, Jake Thompson. Thompson’s home run gave Oklahoma State the 5-1 lead. 

The green and gold fought back in the bottom of the inning with a four-run showing of their own. Pineda led off with a single into center and Richardson brought him home on an RBI double. McKenzie then scored Richardson on an RBI single, and Nevin picked up another hit to put runners on first and second with no outs. 

Baylor Athletics

Richardson rounds second base

Wimpee delivered a bloop RBI single into left to score McKenzie from second. Then Harrison Caley dribbled one past the pitcher’s mound to score Nevin and tie the ballgame at 5 apiece. 

Despite the comeback, Marriott allowed runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings to give the Pokes back the lead, 7-5.

Cam Caley replaced Marriott and gave up a solo shot in the eighth and a three-run homer in the ninth to put the game out of reach. The Bears could not replicate last night’s miraculous comeback and ended up losing 11-5.

Final: Oklahoma State 11 - Baylor 5

W: Justin Campbell (8-2) L: Mason Marriott (2-3) 

POTG: Jack Pineda 4-5, 2 R, HR, RBI

TOP QUOTES

Coach Rodriguez on tonight’s game

“I thought Grant [Golomb] did a great job for us. In his first start against a really high-powered offense like Oklahoma State, really proud of everything he did. He gives up a leadoff home run and then is able to anchor down in there, which is really good. Then giving our offense an opportunity to come back. They score four in the top of the fifth, then we come back and score four and tie the game up. That’s all I can ask from our starters. He’s been a great bullpen guy for us in his past couple of outings, but with the injuries we are having, we had to move him into a starting role for today. It’s frustrating. It depletes the bullpen a little bit more and we are having to go to some guys who we need them to step up down this home stretch with the Big 12 Tournament.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (26-25, 7-16) finishes the regular season and its series against No. 8 Oklahoma State (35-18, 14-9) tomorrow afternoon at Baylor Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 P.M.