Cowboys Complete Series Sweep Of K-State

Saturday, March 26

Manhattan, Kan.

2:05:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

17-7, 0

Kansas State

11-13, 0

Oklahoma State

Kansas State

March 26, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Oklahoma State accomplished something it had not done in 15 years Saturday as the 19^th-ranked Cowboys defeated Kansas State, 5-4, in 10 innings at Tointon Family Stadium.

The win marked the first time since 2001 that OSU has opened Big 12 Conference play with a series sweep. In '01, the Cowboys swept Missouri in Stillwater to open league action.

Saturday's outcome also marked OSU's fourth-straight win as the Cowboys improved to 17-7 overall. K-State fell to 11-13 overall and 0-3 in the league.

A sacrifice fly by J.R. Davis with the bases loaded in the top of the 10^th provided the winning run, and Tyler Buffett continued his brilliance on the mound to earn the victory and improve to 4-1 on the year.

OSU jumped out to an early lead in the contest. Back-to-back doubles by Corey Hassel and Donnie Walton made it 1-0 in the first, and the Pokes increased their lead to 3-1 in the second, scoring on an RBI double by Davis and an error.

Jensen Elliott turned in a quality start for the Cowboys, tossing six innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out five.

OSU carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but the Wildcats would mount a rally and eventually tie the score.

In that inning, two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs. After Blake Battenfield issued a walk to plate a run and make it 4-3, OSU called on Buffett out of the bullpen.

The righty struck out the first batter he faced but then hit Michael Smith with a pitch to bring home the tying run.

With the game tied at 4-4, Buffett escaped further damage with a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.

In the decisive 10^th, Ryan Sluder and Jon Littell got things started with back-to-back singles up the middle to put Cowboys on the corners. After Jacob Chappell struck out, pinch hitter Garrett McCain was intentionally walked to load the bases.

That brought Davis to the plate, and OSU's DH delivered, sending a fly ball to left field that allowed Sluder to tag up and race home with the go-ahead run.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the 10^th after a single and throwing error put Wildcats on first and third, but Buffett got Tyler Wolfe to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Buffett, who recorded saves in the first two games of the series, worked the final three innings Sunday, allowing just one hit and striking out four to seal the win.

Littell finished the contest 3-for-5, while Hassel, Walton and Sluder collected two hits apiece.

OSU returns to action Tuesday when the Cowboys host Arkansas at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. First pitch between the two nationally ranked clubs is set for 6 p.m.