STILLWATER, Okla. – BYU baseball closed out its series with Oklahoma State, falling by a score of 8-3 on Saturday.

"Today the difference was Oklahoma State got big hits when they needed to and we didn't," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "We had a chance to open up a lead with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth and only managed one run. In similar situations they were able to get a couple extra base hits and extend the lead.

"I felt like we played a very solid three-game series but obviously didn't swing the bats like we know we are capable. I do believe we got better this weekend and will be ready going into league play next week."

Box Score

Game Summary

• With the game tied 1-1 in the fifth, Oklahoma State scored three runs in the bottom of the inning, then four additional unanswered runs over the next two innings to pull away
• BYU scored a run in the fifth, eighth and ninth
• Seven pitchers went to the mound for the Cougars

Player Highlights

• Austin Deming: 2-4, 2B, RBI
• Abraham Valdez: 2-3, 2B, R, BB
• Hobbs Nyberg: 1-5, 2B, R

Oklahoma State was the first to score, using a walk, a stolen base and a double to bring around a run in the bottom of the third.

A lead-off double by Abraham Valdez followed by a single from Mitch McIntyre and Brock Watkins getting hit by a pitch set up the Cougars with bases loaded and nobody out. Andrew Pintar’s fly ball to center almost dropped, but a diving catch by the Cowboys allowed just Valdez to score on the tag. Two subsequent outs left the runners stranded and the game tied.

Oklahoma State took no time responding in the bottom of the same inning, putting runners on the corners. A triple scored two runs and a double added another to put OSU back on top, 4-1.

The Cowboys added another run in the sixth and three more on a bases-loaded double in the seventh to extend the lead to 8-1.  

In the eighth, BYU’s Austin Deming doubled down the left field line with two on and one out to score Hobbs Nyberg, but the Cougars again left two stranded to end the inning.

An RBI-single by Bryan Call tacked on another Cougar run in the ninth for the final 8-3 margin.

BYU returns home to Provo for its next series, opening West Coast Conference play by welcoming LMU, March 12-14. First pitch on Thursday will be at 6 p.m. MT with the game airing on the BYUtv app, BYU Radio 107.9 FM and ESPN960 AM.

PROVO, Utah – BYU baseball and defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma State are set to play a three-game series in Stillwater starting Thursday, Mar. 5.

The first two games will stream live on ESPN+ while all three games will air on BYU Radio 107.9 FM and ESPN960 AM. Games one and two will begin at 4 p.m. CT with game three at noon CT.

Game Notes

The Cougars (7-6) and Cowboys (8-5) have played 13 times previously with OSU owning a 9-4 advantage. The two teams last faced off in a two-time series in Stillwater in 2009 with Oklahoma State winning both games. BYU’s last victory came in a 9-8 road victory in 2005.

Starters for BYU this week will be RHP Justin Sterner (0-0, 3.18), LHP Cy Nielson (0-2, 4.50) and RHP Jarod Lessar (0-0, 4.72). The Cougars come in with a team ERA of 4.05 and an opposing batting average of .274. 

The Cowboys currently rank eighth in the nation in total hits, 23rd in batting average and 35th in walks so far this season. On the mound, OSU sports a team ERA of 4.78; starters this week will be LHP Parker Scott (2-1, 3.00), RHP Justin Campbell (0-2, 7.30) and Bryce Osmond (0-1, 6.55).

The Cougars are 25-70 all-time against current Big 12 teams, including 38 games against TCU when both were members of the Mountain West Conference. BYU last played a Big 12 squad in a three-game sweep over Kansas in 2016.