Kansas Walks Oklahoma State Off With Three-Run Shot In Bottom of 11th

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Oklahoma State dropped a 12-11 contest to Kansas in 11 innings Saturday at Hoglund Ballpark.

With the loss, the Cowboys fell to 12-12 overall and 1-5 in Big 12 play, while KU improved to 22-6 and 5-3 in the conference.

OSU took an 11-9 lead in the top of the 11th on a two-run home run by Brock Thompson, but the Jayhawks answered with a three-run, walk-off shot from Sawyer Smith in the bottom of the inning. 

Brayden Smith continued his hot hitting for the Pokes, mashing a home run and extending his hitting streak to 11 games, while Alex Conover was 3-for-4 with a double, homer and three RBIs. Thompson added a pair of hits and drove in three runs.

Sean Youngerman took the loss on the mound as he gave up three runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings.

KU took the game’s initial lead in the third inning on Jackson Hauge’s 12thhome run of the season, a solo shot to center field.

But the Cowboys answered in their next at bat to take their first lead of the series. After a one-out walk to Kollin Ritchie, Jayson Jones singled, and Beau Sylvester followed with his second hit of the game to tie the score at 1-1. Up next, Thompson delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to put OSU on top.

The lead did not last, however, as a two-run homer off the bat of Ian Francis in the bottom of the inning put KU ahead, 3-2. A solo blast two batters later extended the advantage to two. 

In the sixth, the Jayhawks added to their lead once again, rallying for four runs to take an 8-2 lead; the big blow came on a two-RBI double by Tommy Barth.  

OSU would cut into that lead in the seventh. Following a leadoff walk and a Conover double, Smith stepped to the plate and delivered his team-high seventh homer of the season, a three-rum bomb to left field that made the score 8-5.

After another solo homer for KU in the seventh, the Pokes continued their comeback in the eighth when Conover smacked a three-run homer to left-center field to make it a one-run game.

The Cowboys would get the tying run with two outs in the ninth when Donovan LaSalle scored on a wild pitch.

Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.