Baylor Baseball Falls in Extras to No. 20 Oklahoma State in Series Opener, 11-9
STILLWATER, Okla. – Baylor baseball (9-13, 2-2) fell to No. 20 Oklahoma State (18-5, 2-2), 11-9, after an eleventh-inning walk-off home run in the series opener on Friday night at O’Brate Stadium.
In the loss, the Bears' offense exploded for nine runs and 13 hits but couldn’t plate the go-ahead run despite having a man in scoring position with no outs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Baylor’s bullpen tossed six scoreless frames, but the Cowboys ultimately broke through with a two-run walk-off homer in the eleventh off of junior RHP Hambleton Oliver.
Heading into tonight’s contest, Baylor was 1-4 and had been outscored 51-to-14 in series openers.
Despite another series-opening loss, coach Mitch Thompson’s young squad went toe-to-toe with the No. 20 team in the county on Friday night.
The game started when freshman INF Kolby Branch led off the top of the first with a single up the middle. Branch later scored on an RBI double from junior LF Hunter Simmons.
Freshman DH Zach Mazoch capped off a six-run third inning by launching a three-run homer over the right-center field wall to give the Bears a 7-0 lead. It was Mazoch’s second homer of the season.
Oklahoma State’s high-octane offense responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third and six in the fourth.
Fifth-year senior RHP Blake Helton started on the mound Friday night and struggled mightily after throwing two scoreless frames. On 76 pitches, Helton surrendered five earned runs, five hits and four walks in three innings pitched.
Junior RHP Grant Golomb entered with a runner on first and no outs in the fourth but finished allowing four earned runs and five hits in only an inning pitched.
After blowing a 7-0 lead, Baylor tied the game at nine apiece in the sixth after two costly throwing errors from the Pokes’ pitcher, Isaac Stebens.
The Bears had opportunities to score late but couldn’t convert against OSU’s hard-throwing closer, Nolan McLean. McLean struck out seven in four innings of work and his fastball topped out at 99 mph.
Final: Oklahoma State 11 - Baylor 9
W: Nolan McLean (1-1) L: Hambleton Oliver (2-2)
POTG: Zach Mazoch 3-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor baseball (9-13, 2-2) will continue its series against No. 20 Oklahoma State (18-5, 2-2) at 6 p.m. on Saturday at O’Brate Stadium. The game will be televised on okstate.com.