Oklahoma State Loses Game Two at UCF 4-3

(This story originated with Oklahoma State University athletic media relations and was written by Wade McWhorter.)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Oklahoma State dropped its first conference series of the season Saturday night at John Eiland Park as UCF scored twice in the ninth inning to earn a 4-3 win in game two of the weekend. With the loss, OSU fell to 11-8 and 0-2 in Big 12 play, while UCF is now 12-4 and 2-3 in the league.

Brian Holiday was outstanding on the mound for the Cowboys, striking out a career-high 11 and allowing just one earned run in eight innings of work. Carson Benge and Lane Forsythe each had two hits for the Pokes, while Aidan Meola delivered his first home run of the season.

UCF took its initial lead in the second. Andrew Sundean led off the inning with a double and scored the Knights' first run on a sacrifice fly. The home team would tack on an unearned run later in the frame, scoring on a sacrifice bunt to go up 2-0.

The Cowboys trimmed their deficit in half in the fourth via the long ball as Meola blasted a solo homer to left-center field to make the score 2-1.

OSU trailed until the seventh. With two runners on via walk, the Cowboys executed a double steal to put both in scoring position with one out. Following a strikeout, pinch hitter Colin Brueggemann drew a walk to load the bases.

That set the table for Jaxson Crull, who slapped an RBI single to shortstop, and a throwing error on the play brought home the go-ahead run.

Still leading 3-2 in the ninth, OSU brought Gabe Davis out of the bullpen, but the first batter he faced, Sundean, homered on a 3-2 pitch to tie the score.

Following a walk and a sac bunt, an intentional walk put runners on first and second before another walk loaded the bases.

Davis (1-1) would strike out Mikey Kluska for the second out but could not get out of the jam as he hit Matt Prevesk with a pitch to bring home the winning run.

Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 12 p.m. (CDT).