Oklahoma State bludgeons Texas in embarrassing 15-0 loss

On Thursday, the Texas Longhorns started a key pre-Easter series against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium with a chance to move up in the Big 12 standings. instead, the offense managed only one hit, starting pitcher Bryce Elder struggled, and a 10-run eighth inning gave the Cowboys a 15-0 victory.

Facing an opponent that entered the game with 49 home runs, Elder needed his best stuff against the powerful lineup, especially since his pitches are less than overwhelming when elevated. The worst-case scenario came to pass — after scoring a run on a passed ball in the first inning, Oklahoma State scored the next three runs on home runs against Elder.

In all, it was an extremely mixed performance. On one hand, Elder struck out 10 batters and only gave up three earned runs. On the other, he allowed five runs total and those three home runs.

When Elder departed in the seventh inning, things went downhill quickly, though Mason Bryant was able to retire one batter to end that inning. He didn’t retire another and Jack Neely struggled, too. Three runs in the eighth scored on wild pitches and a passed ball, bringing the number of runs scored by the Cowboys to four on mistakes by the pitchers or catcher. Trevor Boone hit his third home run of the game, marking the second time in a week he accomplished that feat.

And meanwhile, the offense never showed up in Stillwater — Texas only had one hit and two walks against seven strikeouts in another complete-game shutout thrown by the opposing pitcher, the second in three games.

First pitch on Friday is at 6:35 p.m. Central on Fox Sports Plus in a gutcheck game for a team that sees its season slipping away with increased quickness.