Cowboys slam past Kansas in game one of doubleheader
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State used three home runs to 10-run rule the Kansas baseball team in the first contest of a Friday doubleheader, 12-1, at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
Kansas (19-18, 3-9 Big 12) starter Ryan Zeferjahn (6-2) gave up 10 of those Cowboy (21-14, 10-3 Big 12) runs in his shortest start of the season. On the flip side, OSU starter Carson Teel (5-2) held the Jayhawks to one run off six hits in a seven-inning performance.
“Zeferjahn didn’t have as good of a fastball command as he has had in his previous starts, and as a result he wasn’t able to mix as much as he normally does,” head coach Ritch Price said. “There were a lot of 2-0 and 2-1 fastball counts and Oklahoma State is a really good fastball hitting team.”
Oklahoma State used that approach and tagged Zeferjahn for four runs in the bottom of the third via two doubles, two singles and a walk. Kansas had its opportunity to get some of those back after loading the bases with nobody out in the top of the fourth. However, a hard line out by Luke Bakula and a double play ground ball by Skyler Messinger kept the Jayhawks off the board.
“Our energy was good, our effort was good, and we played hard,” Price said. “We had chances there in the fourth inning. That is what happens when you are struggling. When you are going good, the ball that Bakula hit finds an ally and all three runners score. We just have to play through it, that is all we can do.”
Zeferjahn’s troubles continued into the bottom half of the fourth where he gave up a six-spot with help from a leadoff home run by OSU third baseman Michael Neustifter and a two-out grand slam from first baseman Christian Funk. That ended the hurlers day after three and 2/3 innings, giving up 10 runs off eight hits that included two doubles and two home runs.
Senior Tyler Davis came on in relief and got KU out of that fourth frame and went on to throw up two zeroes until a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh ended the game.
“I was pleased with the way we went about our business today and pleased with the effort we gave,” Price said. “We need to flush it and get ready for tonight’s game.”
Junior left fielder Devin Foyle tallied the lone run and RBI for Kansas after he hit his sixth home run of the season in the top of the sixth inning. That one swing of the bat broke a 14-inning scoreless streak that dates back to Wednesday (April 18) night’s game at Wichita State.
UP NEXT
Kansas and Oklahoma State continue the series Friday night with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch in the night cap of the doubleheader. Fans can watch the action live on Fox College Sports, or tune into an audio broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthltics.com/Radio and on KLWN.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Scoreless streak snapped: Thanks to a home run in the top of the sixth inning by junior left fielder Devin Foyle, Kansas snapped its scoreless inning streak of 14 frames dating back to their 11-0 loss at Wichita State on Wednesday (April 18).
Ten-run losses: The Jayhawks suffered their third-straight loss of 10 or more runs after a 12-1 defeat at Oklahoma State. It had been almost 31 years to the date (April 18-19, 1987) since that has happened in KU history, ironically against Oklahoma State. KU and OSU played back-to-back doubleheaders on April 18 and April 19 of 1987. The Cowboys swept the four-game set: 13-3, 12-1, 15-2 and 21-3.
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