UCF’s bullpen imploded in a tie game during Thursday’s Big 12 baseball quarterfinal, turning a tie score into an Oklahoma State runaway.
The Cowboys walked four times and scored five runs in the eighth inning in eliminating fourth-seeded UCF 12-6 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. Javier Crespo knotted the score for the Knights three innings earlier with a three-run bomb into the bullpen beyond the left field wall.
UCF (31-21) never led in the ballgame and must now wait until Memorial Day to learn its NCAA Tournament regional destination. Oklahoma State (37-19), which was on the wrong end of a three-game sweep in Orlando back in March, won for the 13th time in 16 games to set up a semifinal showdown with either Kansas or Baylor.
Cayden Gaskin went 3 for 5 with two doubles, Crespo drove in four runs and Andrew Williamson had two hits. Camden Wicker, an All-Big 12 second-team selection, pitched into the fifth inning but allowed six hits, four earned runs and three walks while striking out five.
Five players had multi-hit performances for Oklahoma State, including Colin Brueggemann, who delivered a key three-run single off UCF reliever Evan Jones in the eighth. Mario Pesca picked up the win, fanning four Knights in three innings of one-run relief.
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UCF vs Oklahoma State score updates
Oklahoma State defeats UCF 12-6 in Big 12 quarterfinal
UCF loaded the bases against Oklahoma State reliever Noah Wech, but Javier Crespo popped out to second and Landon Moran bounced into a game-ending double play. The fifth-seeded Cowboys defeated the fourth-seeded Knights 12-6 in the first Big 12 baseball quarterinal in Surprise, Arizona.
Oklahoma State (37-19), swept by UCF (31-21) in a three-game series back in March, advances to meet the winner of the next matchup between Kansas and Baylor. The Knights will wait to learn their NCAA Tournament destination at noon on Memorial Day.
A five-run eighth inning, in which UCF’s relievers walked four batters and allowed two hits, ultimately decided the outcome. Cayden Gaskin had three of the Knights’ 10 hits, including a pair of doubles. Crespo hit a three-run home run to tie the score 5-5 in the fifth.
UCF trails 12-6 heading to bottom of 9th
Alex Conover tripled in a run, and Oklahoma State brought another in a designed rundown to take a 12-6 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth inning.
Sophomore Noah Wech will try to close the game for the Cowboys and clinch a spot in the Big 12 baseball semifinals.
Stephen Chucka drives in 1 with pinch-hit single
Stephen Chucka delivered another key pinch hit for UCF, singling home a run in the eighth inning to pull the Knights within 10-6 against Oklahoma State.
Chucka clinched the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 tournament with a pinch-hit solo homer against Kansas State last weekend.
Oklahoma State adds insurance runs off UCF bullpen
Oklahoma State has blown the game open against UCF’s bullpen.
Campbell Smithwick tacked on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly, and Colin Brueggemann cleared the bases with a three-run single into center. The Cowboys lead UCF 10-5 going to the bottom of the eighth.
Oklahoma State takes 6-5 lead on bases-loaded walk
Kevin Schoneboom missed inside with a 3-2 fastball to Aidan Meola, allowing the go-ahead run to come home. Oklahoma State leads for the third time today, 6-5, with one out and the bases still loaded in the eighth inning.
Rich Wallace will turn to right-hander Evan Jones (1-3, 3.73 ERA) to limit the damage.
UCF makes bullpen call with bases loaded
Oklahoma State has the bases loaded with one out in the eighth, and Rich Wallace is set to make a third pitching change. Kevin Schoneboom will be tasked with keeping the game tied at 5, taking over for Kaniel Rosado.
Schoneboom, a senior from Arlington, Texas, is 3-2 with a 3.44 ERA, 33 strikeouts and 20 walks in 36⅔ innings.
Andrew Williamson doubles, but UCF can’t score
Andrew Williamson smoked a two-out double to the gap in left center, but Mario Pesca has retired the other six hitters he has faced to this point. UCF and Oklahoma State head to the eighth inning knotted up, 5-5.
Oklahoma State comes up empty in top of 7th
Oklahoma State put two aboard in the seventh, but Garrett Shull flew out to left to end the threat. UCF is still tied 5-5 with the Cowboys as it comes to bat.
Kaniel Rosado relieved Max Murray to close the frame. Murray went 2⅔ innings, allowing three hits and an unearned run with four strikeouts.
UCF, Oklahoma State held scoreless in 6th inning
Max Murray and Mario Pesca pitched scoreless sixth innings for their respective teams, and the Big 12 quarterfinal between UCF and Oklahoma State remains tied 5-5.
Murray struck out another pair of Cowboys; he’s allowed one hit, one walk and one unearned run for the Knights.
Javier Crespo launches game-tying, 3-run HR for UCF
UCF has answered back with four runs in the fifth, punctuated by Javier Crespo’s game-tying, three-run jack to left field. The Knights are all square with Oklahoma State, 5-5.
Zak Skinner doubled to deep left to bring home a run just before Crespo’s fifth homer of the spring, a 380-foot no-doubter into the bullpen.
UCF went hitless in its first eight at-bats today with runners in scoring position.
Oklahoma State extends lead to 5-1 over UCF
Oklahoma State capitalized on UCF’s poor bunt defense to plate two more runs in the fifth, taking a 5-1 lead at the halfway point.
The Cowboys chose to sacrifice with two men on and nobody out, but two Knights attempted to cover first and neither caught Javier Crespo’s throw from third. Aidan Meola scored, and Campbell Smithwick came home on Colin Brueggemann’s sacrifice fly.
Max Murray rebounded with a pair of strikeouts in relief of Camden Wicker, who is on the hook for the loss unless the Knights can dig out of a four-run hole.
UCF makes pitching change in 5th inning
Max Murray enters from the bullpen, inheriting a runner on first with nobody out in the fifth inning. Camden Wicker exits after four-plus innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts and three walks.
Oklahoma State regains lead in 4th inning
Oklahoma State scored twice on three hits in the fourth inning, regaining the lead 3-1 against UCF in Thursday’s first Big 12 tournament quarterfinal.
Colin Brueggemann doubled to the base of the right field wall, and Garrett Shull followed with a single up the middle to put Oklahoma State back in front. Brock Thompson legged out a two-out infield single to plate Shull for an insurance run.
The Cowboys have six hits in the game against UCF ace Camden Wicker, who has thrown 71 pitches and tallied five strikeouts.
UCF strands a pair on base in 3rd inning
UCF put its first two men aboard in the third inning, but the heart of its order could not push a run across against Hudson Barrett. The Knights and Oklahoma State are tied 1-1 after three innings.
Cayden Gaskin is 2 for 2 after singling through the right side of the infield. John Smith also reached on a throwing error at second, but Andrew Williamson popped out to shallow left, Zak Skinner struck out swinging and Javier Crespo flew out to center.
Camden Wicker returns to the mound after striking out four Cowboys in the first three innings.
UCF, Oklahoma State tied 1-1 after 2 innings
UCF went down in order in the second inning, keeping the score 1-1 with Oklahoma State in the day’s first quarterfinal at the Big 12 tournament.
Remo Indomenico tracked down a deep fly ball off the bat of UCF’s DeAmez Ross before it could land in the gap for extra bases.
Landon Moran robs Oklahoma State of go-ahead hit
One of the top defensive first basemen in the country, Landon Moran robbed Alex Conover of extra bases along the line with a diving backhand snag and flip to Camden Wicker at the bag. UCF and Oklahoma State remain tied 1-1 as the Cowboys stranded Garrett Shull after a triple off the top of the right field wall.
UCF loads bases, ties game on fielder’s choice
UCF third baseman Javier Crespo tied the game 1-1 on a fielder’s choice to shortstop with the bases loaded. Alex Conover denied the Knights’ bid to take the lead with a diving grab in left field to snatch an RBI single away from Landon Moran.
Oklahoma State starting pitcher Hudson Barrett allowed a leadoff double to Cayden Gaskin, plunked Andrew Williamson on the left hand with a fastball and walked Zak Skinner.
Oklahoma State strikes 1st in opening inning
Campbell Smithwick dropped a two-out single into shallow left field to plate the game’s first run. Oklahoma State takes a 1-0 lead over UCF after half an inning.
Alex Conover singled in his first at-bat and advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Brock Thompson reached via walk, but UCF ace Camden Wicker rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts, including one of Big 12 home run leader Kollin Ritchie.
Oklahoma State starting lineup vs. UCF
Hudson Barrett (5-1, 3.24 ERA) takes the mound for Oklahoma State against UCF. The Knights did not see the junior left-hander during their three-game home sweep back in April.
As for the Cowboys’ batting order:
UCF starting lineup vs. Oklahoma State
Camden Wicker, UCF’s 6-foot-7, 190-pound junior right-hander, will pitch the opening game of the Big 12 tournament. Wicker earned a spot on the All-Big 12 second team earlier this week with a 5-3 record, a 3.71 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 68 innings.
Here is the Knights’ batting order:
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2026 Big 12 baseball tournament bracket, schedule
First round (Tuesday, May 19)
Second round (Wednesday, May 20)
Quarterfinals (Thursday, May 21)
Semifinals (Friday, May 22)
Championship (Saturday, May 23)
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF baseball vs Oklahoma State: Final score, highlights from Big 12 tournament
Reporting by Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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