Cowboys Drop Series At Kansas

Oklahoma State lost its first Big 12 Conference series of the season on Sunday as the 19th-ranked Cowboys suffered a 3-2 setback against Kansas at Hoglund Ballpark.

OSU tied a season high with four errors and saw KU score all three of its runs in the first two innings as the Cowboys fell to 22-8 overall and 4-4 in conference play.

OSU took an early lead in its first at bat. Aaron Cornell walked to open the game, and following Robbie Rea's sacrifice bunt, a double by Tanner Krietemeier gave the Cowboys a 1-0 advantage.

The lead did not last long, however, as the Jayhawks (18-12, 5-4) answered in the bottom of the first and took a lead they never surrendered.

Justin Protacio got things started for KU with a leadoff single off Tyler Nurdin, and the Jayhawks then utilized a small ball approach to fuel their rally.

Kevin Kuntz followed Protacio with a bunt and reached on an error by Nurdin, and a bunt single by Michael Suiter was made worse when a throwing error by Rea allowed Protacio to score the tying run.

KU's third-straight bunt was executed by Alex DeLeon and put Jayhawks on second and third with one out. Dakota Smith then gave the home team a 2-1 lead with an RBI groundout before Nurdin retired the next batter to get out of the inning.

The Jayhawks tallied what proved to be the decidng run in the second. A bunt single by Connor McKay opened the inning, and Ka'iana Eldredge followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Tucker Tharp then plated KU's third run with yet another sacrifice bunt to make the score 3-1.

Following KU's three early runs, Nurdin regrouped and kept the Jayhawks off the scoreboard. Despite falling to 0-1, the sophomore southpaw worked a career-high seven innings and allowed just two hits after the second frame.

The Cowboys' offense, however, could not get to KU starter Wes Benjamin, who improved to 3-3 with a six inning effort.

OSU's final run came in the sixth on an RBI single by Randy McCurry, but the Cowboys were done in by KU's ability to get out of trouble as the Jayhawks turned three double plays in the contest.

The Cowboys return to action Tuesday when they battle Oral Roberts at ONEOK Field in Tulsa. The game is set for 7:05 p.m.