STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State erased an early 2-0 deficit and scored in each of their final five innings to rally past Wichita State 9-5 on Tuesday night at O’Brate Stadium.
The Shockers (8-16) scratched across single runs in the third and fourth innings to take the early lead, plating their first run on a Josh Livingston RBI single before Gannon Snyder doubled the advantage with a double play grounder. But the Cowboys (12-10) poured in six runs over the next two innings, highlighted by a three-run triple from Colin Brueggemann and back-to-back home runs from Brayden Smith and Nolan Schubart to take a 6-2 lead.
Wichita State pulled a run back in the top of the sixth when Kaleb Duncan dumped an RBI single with two outs, scoring Kam Durnin who had opened the frame with a single of his own. Oklahoma State answered back with a run of their own in the home half of the inning to restore their four-run lead, getting a leadoff double from Alex Conover to set up a squeeze bunt from Drew Culbertson that made it 7-3.
A Jayson Jones RBI double in the bottom of the seventh pushed the margin to 8-3.
The Shockers made things interesting in the top of the eighth, plating two runs to get the tying run into the on-deck circle. Snyder coaxed a leadoff walk and Jordan Black followed with a booming RBI triple to left-center field. Kaleb Duncan brought Black home with an RBI grounder to first, cutting the Cowboys lead to 8-5. Camden Johnson restarted the rally with a single and later moved to second on a wild pitch, but a pair of pop outs against Oklahoma State closer Sean Youngerman ended the threat.
Oklahoma State manufactured a run in the bottom of the eighth for the final margin. Smith doubled to start the frame, moved to third on a throwing error and came into score when he swiped home as part of a double steal. Youngerman worked a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win and his fourth save.
Wichita State starter Brady Hamilton fired two hitless, scoreless innings before handing the ball off to Jeremiah Arnett (0-1), who allowed three runs in one-plus inning of work to take the loss. Shocker pitchers combined to walk 10 in the defeat.
Johnson and Durnin led the Shockers offensively with two hits apiece.
Wichita State returns to American Athletic Conference play on Friday night against UAB. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 6:00 pm CT.
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