Sophomore Brian Heere was hit by a pitch Sunday to load the bases in the 10th inning, setting up KU's rally.
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Sophomore Tony Thompson’s bases loaded single in the bottom of the tenth plated the winning run in the bottom of the 10th as Kansas overcame an extra inning deficit to knock off No. 17 Oklahoma State 4-3, and complete a three-game sweep of the Cowboys Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark.
The three-game sweep, KU’s first over OSU since 1993, improved Kansas to 23-12 overall and 7-5 in the Big 12. The Cowboys fell to 21-14 and 4-8 in conference play.
Despite being outhit 14-9, and trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the tenth, the Jayhawks simply found a way to win Sunday.
Kansas scored two runs off of Oklahoma State closer Randy McCurry, who worked the final 3 1/3 innings. With one out, David Narodowski popped a single to right field and moved to second on a walk to Robby Price. Sophomore Brian Heere was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Buck Afenir pushed home the tying run by wearing a 3-2 pitch.
With the bases loaded and one out, Thompson lined a 1-0 pitch to the wall that plated Price with the winning run.
Kansas came back to win despite surrendering a run in the top of the 10th on a one-out double by Tom Belza. The second baseman’s hit scored Dean Green, who led off the inning with a single to right and moved to second on a sacrifice.
With a light rain falling throughout the afternoon, both teams struggled offensively, scoring two runs each before the 10th.
The Cowboys took their first lead of the series in the third inning as Tyrone Hambly singled home Rafael Thomas, who reached via a hit by pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice.
KU came back to take a 2-1 lead on Afenir’s two-run double in the bottom of the third. The Kansas catcher drove in three of KU’s four runs Sunday, going 2-for-4.
OSU tied it in the seventh on a Neil Medchill sacrifice fly.
Kansas starting pitcher Lee Ridenhour did not factor into the decision, but held the 17th-ranked Cowboys to one run on seven hits over five innings with a walk and four strikeouts.
Sophomore Brett Bochy picked up the win, going three innings and allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts.
Afenir, Thompson and Narodowski each finished with two hits. Thompson extended his hitting streak to 12 straight games. He becomes the first Jayhawk since Ryan Baty in 2004 to record multiple hitting streaks of 12 games or more in the same season.
The sweep of the 17th-ranked Cowboys was the Jayhawks’ second of a nationally ranked team this season. Earlier this year, KU swept then-No. 1 Texas in a three-game series.
Kansas (23-12, 7-5 Big 12) will travel to Omaha, Neb., this week to take on Creighton University at Rosenblatt Stadium Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised by CBS College Sports (Channel 143 on Sunflower Broadband). Fans can also hear the game on KLWN (1320 AM) in Lawrence.
Head Coach Ritch Price on Lee Ridenhour
On the game:
“As sick as (Lee) Ridenhour was, to go out and pitch five innings for us today and allow our bullpen to piece things together was crucial. I thought our bullpen was outstanding. It was a tough day to play with the weather and the way the wind was blowing. But it ended up being a great win, there’s no doubt about it.”
On pitcher Lee Ridenhour:
“We didn’t know he would be able to pitch until this morning. He has been brutally sick since Friday night. We were hopeful that with really good medical care, and if he was able to get plenty of rest, then he would be able to go out and give us at least three or four innings. I think today was a wonderful learning experience for him.”
