Teel Tosses Gem As Cowboy Baseball Clinches Series

Sunday, April 8

Manhattan, KS

2:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

17-11-1, 6-2

Kansas State

15-16, 2-6

Oklahoma State

Kansas State

Carson Teel

April 08, 2018 | Cowboy Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)
Teel postgame interview

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Carson Teel's complete game performance lifted Oklahoma State to a series win over Kansas State as the Cowboys claimed a 6-1 victory Sunday at Tointon Family Stadium.

The win was the fifth in a row in conference play for the Cowboys as they improved to 6-2 in the Big 12 and 17-11-1 overall. The Wildcats fell to 15-16 and 2-6 in the league.

Teel's complete game was the first of his career and the first by a Cowboy pitcher this season as he improved to 4-1. The junior southpaw scattered six hits, all singles, and recorded nine strikeouts, one shy of his career high, in the 142-pitch effort. Teel's previous career-long outing was 7 1/3 innings, which came earlier this season at Arizona State in a relief effort.

Offensively, Matt Kroon went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and a pair of runs scored, while Jon Littell had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs in four trips to the plate.

OSU wasted no time taking an early lead on Sunday. Andrew Rosa led off the game with a walk, and a bunt single by Kroon put Cowboys on the corners. Colin Simpson would then give the Pokes a 1-0 lead as he added to his team-leading RBI total by plating Rosa on a fielder's choice.

The lead was short-lived, however, as K-State tied the score in the bottom of the first. A leadoff walk also spelled trouble for OSU as Will Brennan earned the free base and later scored on a successful double steal of second and home to make the score 1-1.

With Teel keeping K-State off the scoreboard, the Cowboys regained the lead in the sixth. Michael Neustifter led off the inning with a double to the left-center field gap, and he later came home with the go-ahead run when Jake Taylor grounded into a double play.

OSU extended its lead in the seventh. The Pokes loaded the bases with one out before Neustifter grounded to third base. The Wildcats got the force out at the plate, but Neustifter beat the throw to first to avoid the double play and Kroon raced home from second base to put the visitors up 3-1.

With Teel cruising, the Cowboys got a big swing of the bat to add to their lead in the ninth when Littell crushed a three-run homer to left field. The blast was the senior's fourth round tripper of the season and pushed the OSU advantage to 6-1.

In their final at bat, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a walk, but Teel got TK McWhertor to ground into a double play to end the game.

Monday's series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.