Baylor Baseball Drops Regular Season Finale to No. 8 Oklahoma State, 9-5

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (26-26, 7-17) dropped the regular-season finale to No. 8 Oklahoma State (36-18, 15-9), 9-5. The score was 11-6 in the bottom of the ninth when a lightning delay and subsequent rain led the game to be called off without resuming. Per NCAA rules, the score reverts back to the last completed inning.

Baylor Athletics

Before the game, thirteen seniors were honored for their contributions to the Baylor baseball program: Jack Pineda, Antonio Valdez, Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo Ian Groves, Tyler Thomas, Nicolas Balsano, Hambleton Oliver, Jake Jackson, Anderson Needham, Chase Wehsener, Matt Voelker, and Beau Wimpee. Even though it was a disappointing season, it was a nice touch to honor the seniors on the final day of the regular season.

The Bears were unable to pick up the series win on Sunday afternoon despite scoring in the first inning in each of the three games this weekend.

Sunday’s game started with walks by both Tre Richardson and Jared McKenzie. Kyle Nevin roped a single into center to put the Bears on the board, 1-0. Antonio Valez and Cam Caley both picked up bloop RBI singles to extend the lead to 3-0. 

The Baylor offense had Valdez on third with only one out and was unable to bring him home. Not capitalizing on another run would come back to bite the green and gold in the later innings. 

Blake Helton got the start on the bump today and threw two scoreless innings before being pulled in favor of Anderson Needham. Helton left the game early because he will be on the mound for the opening game of the Big 12 Tournament. 

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Blake Helton threw two scoreless innings today.

In relief, Needham allowed a solo home run in the third inning. Cole Stasio then replaced Needham in the fifth inning and allowed another solo shot. The Pokes cut the lead to 3-2 after the fifth inning. 

Matt Voelker entered to pitch in the seventh inning. He walked two and then took a tumble on a weak ball hit past the pitcher’s mound to load the bases. The Pokes took advantage of the mishap by scoring all three runs.  Voelker came into the game with a 3-2 lead and left with a 5-3 deficit. 

Adam Muirhead allowed four runs in the eighth, giving us the final score of 9-5. 

Even with the loss, the stage is set for the Big 12 Tournament. The eighth-seeded Bears will be playing the regular-season conference champions, TCU at 12:30 P.M. Wednesday afternoon. 

Final: Oklahoma State 9 - Baylor 5

W: Mitchell Stone (2-0) L: Matt Voelker (4-7) 

POTG: Kyle Nevin 2-4, R, RBI

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (26-26, 7-17) will open the Big 12 Tournament against the No. 1 seed, TCU Horned Frogs (35-18, 16-8) next Wednesday at 12:30 P.M. The conference tournament is double elimination, and the Bears will play on Thursday at 9 A.M. with a loss or 4 P.M. with a win on Wednesday.