Kansas State Baseball Takes Oklahoma Series 2-1, Wins Big 12 Championship

John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The Wildcats fell to Oklahoma 7-3 to finish their regular season on Sunday afternoon, but not before downing the Sooners twice this weekend to claim the Big 12 Championship. Kansas State completed a season for the ages with a 39-16 record while finishing 16-8 in league play and securing the top seed in the Big 12 tournament.

The Sooners held the Wildcat offense in check for the entire three game series in a pattern of stranded base runners that has plagued the team all year. Although K-State is fourth in the NCAA with a .321 team batting average, they are 48th in runs per game due to the inability to capitalize on opportunities. Similarly, the Wildcats outhit the Sooners 14-7 on Sunday but managed only three runs to Oklahoma’s seven due to 13 stranded baserunners. Another theme – lack of power – was also on display as Oklahoma managed two home runs in the game to zero for K-State.

K-State took the first game on Friday 6-5 to secure a share of the Big 12 championship, and locked up sole possession on Saturday with a 5-2 victory, relying on its pitching to keep a sputtering Oklahoma offense in check. They will face #8 seed Texas Tech on Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12’s double elimination tournament.