K-State's Rally Comes Up Short Against #23 Oklahoma State, 11-9
Apr 06, 2003 | Baseball
April 6, 2003
Stillwater, Okla. - Kansas State nearly completed the incredible comeback in the ninth inning with the tying runs on second and third, however, reliever Daniel Rew struck out the final batter for his team-leading fifth save, as 23rd-ranked Oklahoma State completed the three-game sweep of the Wildcats with an 11-9 victory on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 1,162 at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
With the win, Oklahoma State improved to 21-9 on the season and 7-2 in Big 12 Conference play, while Kansas State fell to 10-19 overall and 0-9 in league play with the loss. The 11-game losing streak ties for the fourth-longest losing streak in school history and represents the longest since also dropping 11 in 1997. The skid is a mere one game away from the longest in the Mike Clark era of 12 set in 1994.
The nine-game skid to start league play continues to be the worst since earning 15 straight losses to begin Big Eight play in 1986.
The win enables Oklahoma State to not only take sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings, but also allows the team to sweep the season series from Kansas State for the 15th time in 20 series played in Stillwater since 1973. The Wildcats have not taken a road series from the Cowboys since March 29-30, 1971 and fall to 3-31 under Clark in Stillwater.
After retiring the Wildcats in order in the top of the first inning, Oklahoma State jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning with six runs on four hits and an error. Junior outfielder Lyndsey Simmons led off the inning by being hit by pitch then moved all the way to third on a bunt by senior outfielder Jose Virgil and an fielding error by the second baseman on another bunt by sophomore third baseman Josh Fields. With the bases loaded, the Cowboys plated three runs on the next two at-bats, as junior first baseman John Urick connected on a two-RBI single to right field to score Simmons and Virgil followed by a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Jason Jaramillo to score Fields. After junior designated hitter Mario Matulich singled to place runners on the corners, sophomore second baseman Kenny Hansley connected on his first home run of the season with a three-run blast just inside the foul pole in right field to push the score to 6-0.
Kansas State responded with a run on two hits in the top of the second inning to cut the deficit to 6-1. Senior first baseman Tim Doty led off the inning with a walk on four pitches followed by a single by senior catcher Ryan Baldwin to left-center field. After a strikeout, senior outfielder Gabe Luttrell singled up the middle to load the bases. On the next at-bat, senior second baseman Brandon Taylor hit into a fielder's choice to score Doty from third base. However, after a walk to junior outfielder Brad Anzman to again load the bases, sophomore outfielder Terry Blunt grounded out for the third out to end the inning.
However, Oklahoma State got the run back in the bottom of the inning, as Simmons led off with a triple to right-center field then scored on a single up the middle by Virgil.
Kansas State closed the gap to 7-2 in the top of the fourth inning, as senior shortstop Brett Williams scored from second base on a long single down the left field line by Luttrell. Again, the Cowboys got the run back plus one more, as Simmons and Virgil led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Simmons then scored on a RBI single by Fields followed by a double steal of home by Virgil and Fields.
Down 9-2, the Wildcats chased starter Joe Weaver in the top of the fifth inning by scoring two runs on two hits, an error and two walks. Junior third baseman Ty Soto connected on the team's first extra-base hit of the series with a double to the gap in right-center field with one out then moved to third base on a walk to senior outfielder Pat Maloney and a single by Doty. With the bases loaded, Soto scored from third on a wild pitch before Maloney scored on a fielder's choice by Baldwin. However, after a pair of walks to Williams and Luttrell to again load the bases, ace Cowboy reliever Shane Hawk got the ground out to halt the scoring.
It took an inning, but Oklahoma State got both runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of two Wildcat errors. Virgil continued his impressive performance with his fourth hit of the contest with a double down the left field line before scoring on an error by the second baseman. Fields, who reached on the error, scored two batters later with another error by the second baseman on an errant throw on a double play.
Kansas State wouldn't give up down 11-4, as the Wildcats plated five runs on four hits and on error in the top of the seventh. After an out, Doty singled up the middle then advanced to second on an error by the shortstop on a fielder's choice by Baldwin. Williams plated the first run with a RBI single to left-center field before the team once again loaded the bases on a fielder's choice and a walk. Down two outs, junior outfielder Brad Anzman came through in the clutch with a bases-clearing triple to the gap in left-center field. Blunt then scored Anzman from third base with a single up the middle to close the deficit to 11-9.
Virgil paced Oklahoma State offensively, as he went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI. Simmons added a 2-for-2 afternoon with three runs scored, while Urick went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Hansley led the team with three RBIs.
Doty led Kansas State with his 4-for-4 performance with two runs scored and a walk. Williams and Luttrell added two hits each with a run scored and a RBI, while Anzman had a team-leading three RBIs.
Junior left-handed pitcher Shane Hawk picked up his sixth win in relief for Oklahoma State, as he allowed five unearned runs on five hits in 3-2/3 innings pitched with two strikeouts and two walks. Rew struck out three in the ninth to collect his team-leading fifth save.
Senior right-handed pitcher Kevin Melcher fell to 0-3 on the season in taking the loss for Kansas State, as he allowed five earned runs (nine total) on 10 hits in 3-1/3 innings pitched with one strikeout. Junior left-handed pitcher Brett Bagley and sophomore right-handed pitcher Eric Rollins were solid in relief, combining to allow just one earned run on three hits the last 4-2/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Kansas State returns to action on Wednesday, as the Wildcats travel to Wichita, Kan., to face Wichita State at Eck Stadium beginning at 7 p.m.
