In game three of K-State’s series against Oklahoma State, it was the Wildcats’ pitching staff that delivered a historic performance on the mound, tallying 23 strikeouts on April 12. Despite the milestone, the Cowboys pushed through in extra innings, securing the win in the drawn-out 13th inning.

The Pokes came out with guns blazing, as Oklahoma State scored four runs against Cohen Feser in the first inning before adding another run in the second to build a 5-0 lead. However, the Wildcats would answer back in a big way. K-State sent 12 hitters to the bases while gaining six runs in the bottom of the second. The early lead from the Cowboys was gone in an instant. 

Momentum shifted both ways throughout the middle innings. After Oklahoma State briefly regained the lead in the sixth, K-State answered back with two runs in the seventh to move back in front. A Nick English solo shot in the eighth extended the lead even more, as the Wildcats now led 9-7.

The back-and-forth onslaught continued, as the Cowboys added on a three-run homer in the ninth inning to take a 10-9 lead in a clutch way. Oklahoma State wouldn’t be satisfied for long, though, as K-State forced extra innings by tying the game 10-10. After doubling down the right field line, Micah Kendrick was the Wildcats’ focus, as Kyan Lodice laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Kendrick to third. With one out on the board, Ty Smolinski hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Kendrick and tying the game.

After neither team scored in the 10th, 11th or 12th inning, the long game concluded in the 13th, as the Cowboys plated the go-ahead run on a solo home run and added an insurance run with an RBI single. The Wildcats couldn’t respond like they had all game in the bottom half, as Oklahoma State closed out the 13-inning game, 12-10, marking K-State’s longest game since 2013.

Eight Wildcats recorded hits in the game, including a multi-hit performance from AJ Evasco and Micah Kendrick, as each finished with three. English and Chandler Murray led the team with two RBIs apiece, with English also adding a home run to his stat line.

On the mound, Tazwell Butler had a standout relief performance, pitching six innings and striking out a career-high 11 batters. Robert Fortenberry contributed with six strikeouts as well. In total, five K-State pitchers combined to set the new program record of 23 strikeouts.

Oklahoma State finished with 16 hits compared to the Wildcats’ 14, and both teams committed one error in the competitive matchup. 

K-State will return to action on April 14, as the Wildcats host Omaha at 6 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium.