Oklahoma State University Athletics
Kansas State Snaps Cowboys? Winning Streak
March 29, 2008 | Cowboy Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Oklahoma State had its four-game winning streak snapped by Kansas State Friday night as the Wildcats earned a 4-3 win at Tointon Stadium.
With the loss, the 22nd-ranked Cowboys fell to 17-7 overall and 3-4 in Big 12 Conference play, while K-State extended its winning streak to five games and is now 12-11 overall and 1-3 in the league.
The eighth inning proved to be the decisive frame, with both teams coming up with key rallies.
OSU trailed 3-1 after seven innings, and K-State starter Brad Hutt (3-2) retired the first two Cowboy hitters in the eighth. But then Matt Hague walked, and Rebel Ridling stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run home run over the left field wall to tie the score.
The score did not remain tied for long, however, as in the bottom of the eighth it was K-State taking advantage of a two-out walk.
This time, it was Nate Tenbrink drawing a walk off OSU reliever Matt Peck and promptly stealing second. An infield single by Rob Vaughn brought Brett Scott to the plate, and the Wildcat second baseman delivered the game-winning RBI with a single.
The Cowboys put the tying run on second in the ninth against KSU closer Daniel Edwards. Luis Flores led off the inning with a walk, and pinch runner Rafael Thomas took second on a sacrifice bunt. But pinch hitters Dean Green and Neil Medchill struck out to end the contest and give Edwards his sixth save.
Peck suffered the loss in relief of starter Andrew Oliver as the junior fell to 0-1 on the year. He allowed one run on three hits in two innings of work.
Oliver lasted six innings, allowing three runs, two of them earned, on four hits. He also walked five batters and recorded four strikeouts.
OSU took the game's initial lead with a run in the top of the second. Donnie Webb singled and stole second, and Tyrone Hambly plated him with a double to give the Cowboys a 1-0 advantage.
The lead did not last long as K-State scored a pair of runs in the third without hitting the ball out of the infield.
Oliver walked Scott to lead off the inning, and Dane Yelovich followed with a bunt single to put Wildcats on first and second. KSU bunted for a second-straight time, but Oliver committed a throwing error on the play that allowed Scott to score the tying run.
The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead when Yelovich scored on a double play.
K-State would add to its lead in the fourth frame when Scott collected an RBI on a sacrifice bunt.
Still trailing 3-1 in the seventh, the Cowboys threatened as Luis Flores singled up the middle, and Hambly was hit by a pitch to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with one out. But Dylan Brown popped up to first base, and Thomas Belza flew out to right to end the potential rally.
The two teams return to action Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest.
