Baylor Baseball Blown Out in Finale, 13-6, Loses Road Series to Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, Okla. – Baylor baseball (12-11, 2-4) dropped its series to Oklahoma State (16-8, 2-4) after getting blown out in the finale, 13-6, on Sunday afternoon at O’Brate Stadium.

Shortstop Travis Sanders (RJr.), right fielder Brady Janusek (Fr.) and third baseman Brytton Clements (RFr.) each collected multiple base knocks and combined for seven of the Bears’ nine hits in the defeat. Baylor’s batting order, however, recorded double-digit strikeouts (11) for the third time this weekend and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Following an early 4-0 deficit, the Bears battled back to tie the game in the fourth inning, but surrendered a five-spot in the bottom of the frame and were out-scored across the rest of the contest, 9-2. Baylor’s pitching staff handed out seven free passes, and the defense tallied two critical errors in key moments.

“We got a lead, and then we immediately gave it right back up,” head coach Mitch Thompson told the Baylor Sports and Media Network post-game. “We’re going to have to pitch better. We’ve got to have some more consistent performances out of our pitching. That’s what we have to have. We’re not going to win many games when we give up 13.”

After a fantastic outing last weekend against No. 22 West Virginia, left-handed pitcher Ethan Calder (Sr.) failed to duplicate it and was hit around early by Oklahoma State, surrendering four runs and four hits to the Pokes in the bottom of the first.

Despite the early deficit, the Bears didn’t seem phased early as Sanders crushed a two-run shot out of the ballpark — his first homer of the season — and catcher JJ Kennett (Jr.) tied the game in the top of the fourth with a two-run single into center field.

Calder bounced back for two clean innings before a two-base error to lead off the bottom of the fourth messed up his momentum. The Pokes took advantage of the miscue with two run-scoring hits, and Calder exited the contest with two runners aboard and two outs.

Right-handed pitcher Grayson Murry (Sr.) entered to get the Bears out of the jam but issued back-to-back-to-back walks, two of which were with the bases loaded, extending Oklahoma State’s lead to 9-4.

Calder tossed 3.2 innings of work on the mound, but allowed seven hits, nine runs, six earned runs and two walks on 82 pitches; his season ERA jumped nearly two whole points to 4.39. 

Although Murry recorded five hits and didn’t surrender a hit, he walked four batters, including a leadoff one in the bottom of the sixth. Right-handed pitcher Luke DeVasher (Jr.) entered for the Bears, and the Cowboys took advantage, adding four more runs in the frame.

The Pokes’ pitching staff pretty much coasted the rest of the afternoon, aside from a two-run top of the seventh where Janusek tripled into the right-center gap and scored on an RBI ground out from Baylor first baseman Tyce Armstrong (RSr.).

Final: Oklahoma State 13, Baylor 6

W: Zane Burns (1-0) L: Ethan Calder (1-3)

POTG: Brady Janusek (3-for-5, R, RBI, 3B)

What’s Next

The Bears (12-11) will return to Waco to face UIW (13-11) in a midweek matchup at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at Baylor Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.