Around the Big 12: Bearcats Rally Past Jayhawks
Jack Natili blasted a three-run home run in the top of the eighth to put Cincinnati ahead, as the Bearcats turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead. Cincinnati added three more in the ninth, scoring a 7-2 win over second-place Kansas on Friday night in Lawrence.
After watching the Bearcats rally past, the Jayhawks now sit 2.5 games out of first place behind West Virginia. The Mountaineers were idle on Friday, as their series opener with Texas Tech was canceled because of weather.
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Brady Counsell drove in both runs for the Jayhawks, including his 12th home run of the season in the fourth inning. Other than Counsell, Cincinnati starter Nathan Taylor controlled the Kansas lineup, fanning seven and allowing just two runs over eight innings. Taylor earned his fifth win of the year.
Dominic Voegele pitched seven strong innings for Kansas, but couldn’t survive the eighth. After getting the first out, he allowed back-to-back singles before surrendering Natili’s blast, taking the loss.
The teams play the second game of the series Saturday.
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Cowboys Crush Knights
Colin Brueggeman and Brock Thompson both homered twice, driving in three runs each in a 12-0 Oklahoma State home victory over Central Florida.
Harrison Bodendorf didn’t need his best stuff on Friday, but delivered it anyway to move to 8-1 on the year. The Oklahoma State ace never let the Knights into the game, scattering four hits and striking out seven over eight shutout innings.
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The Cowboys’ offense delivered early and often. Oklahoma State scored in six of its first seven turns at bat, gradually building a big cushion. Camden Wicker made it into the fourth inning, but Thompson’s first home run and a hit batter ended Wicker’s night.
UCF dropped its fourth straight and sits a half-game behind BYU for the final spot in the Big 12 tournament. The teams play the second game Saturday.
Wildcats Launch Six Blasts, Bury Cougars
Keegan O’Connor hit three home runs and Kansas State sent six baseballs over the fence Friday, earning an 18-4 win over BYU on Friday in Provo, Utah.
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O’Connor became the fifth Wildcat ever to hit three home runs in a single game. He went 5-for-6 and fell a double short of the cycle. Seth Dardar homered twice, as the Wildcats evened the series.
Kansas State starter Michael Quevedo struck out 10 over six innings. Garrison Sumner struck out nine for BYU, but allowed seven earned runs in 3.2 innings. BYU is barely holding the last spot in the Big 12 tournament, while Kansas State sits 1.5 games back of a first-round bye. The teams conclude the series Saturday.
Errors Doom Sun Devils Against Bears
Arizona State made three errors in a six-run Baylor seventh inning, as the Bears overcame an early deficit for a 7-4 win on Friday night in Waco.
The Sun Devils wasted a strong start from ace Ben Jacobs, who fanned 10 Bears over five innings. But ASU’s mistakes snowballed in the seventh, as none of the six Baylor runs were earned. With two outs and two on, ASU reliever Lucas Kelly appeared to be out of the inning when he got Hunter Simmons to ground to third baseman Nu’u Contreras.
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But Contreras missed his throw, his first of three errors in the inning. One run scored on the play, and Wesley Jordan tied the game when he followed with a two-run double.
Gabe Craig then slammed the door on Arizona State with a hitless eighth and ninth for his eighth save. The teams play the second game Saturday.
Utes and Cougars Suspended
Utah and Houston had their game interrupted by weather on Friday night in Houston. The Utes lead the game 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh, with one out and two runners on for the Cougars.
Tyler Cox has three hits in the game for Houston. Utah can pass Houston in the standings by sweeping the series.
Walton Lifts Arizona to Comeback Win
Aaron Walton slammed a pair of home runs and Arizona overcame early struggles to earn a 6-3 win over TCU on Friday.
Owen Kramkowski struggled initially in his first Friday start, but eventually calmed down enough to give the Wildcats five solid innings. The Arizona bullpen finished the job, holding TCU to three hits over the last four innings.
Mason White put the Wildcats ahead to stay with a two-run single in the sixth. He finished with three hits in the game, matching teammate Tommy Splaine. The teams play Game 2 on Saturday.
