OKLAHOMA CITY – You couldn’t have asked for a more exciting Bedlam game than what the two teams put on the field at Bricktown Ballpark, but the No. 14 OU baseball team could not put itself in the win column as it lost 4-3 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday.

The Sooners (34-13, 11-10 Big 12) scored all three of their runs in the final two innings, but their effort was not enough to overcome a bad third inning and a dominant performance out of OSU junior pitcher Brad Propst.

Junior pitcher Bobby Shore got off to a good start by striking out four batters in the first two innings, but he fell apart in his third inning of work. He allowed five straight hits, including a leadoff home run to junior right fielder Luis Uribe, to start the inning, and four runs had crossed the plate before head coach Sunny Golloway pulled Shore.

“The home run changed who he was, and it shouldn’t of because I think anybody coming into the ballpark would’ve understood that one run’s not going to beat you,” Golloway said.

Shore only lasted 2 2/3 innings, and he has not made it out of the third inning in each of his last two starts. His starting pitcher role is now in jeopardy because of his recent struggles, Golloway said.

Junior pitcher Michael Rocha came in to stop the bleeding, but his counterpart, Propst, was throwing a gem.

The lefty set Sooner after Sooner down by painting the corner with his fastball and keeping hitters off balanced with his changeup. Propst did not allow a runner to get to third base until the sixth inning, but the problem for OU was its batters weren’t able to put good swings on any of his pitches, sophomore third baseman Garrett Buechele said.

“We just weren’t putting the swings that we’re capable of putting on the ball,” said Buechele, who extended his hitting streak to 19 games by going 2-4. “The pitches were there to hit, but we just didn’t put our swings on the ball.”

The Sooners weren’t going to be held off the scoreboard for the entire game, though, but they needed someone to give the lineup a boost.

Last night, that boost came when freshman left fielder Max White launched a solo home run in the fourth inning, but it was sophomore shortstop Caleb Bushyhead’s turn to light a fire under his teammates. He singled in a run with two outs in the eighth inning to narrow the deficit to 4-1, and Propst was pulled after the at-bat.

Propst went 7 2/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits while striking out seven batters. The game was out of his control, which was something that didn’t make him comfortable, Propst said.

“I think I ran about a mile in the dugout walking back and forth,” he joked. “It was crazy; I didn’t like it.”

Oklahoma State freshman pitcher Ian McCarthy recorded the final out of the eighth inning, but he gave up a solo blast to Max White and a single to senior designated hitter Ross Hubbard to start the ninth before freshman pitcher Andrew Heaney was called out of the bullpen.

After Heaney walked the first batter he faced, junior second baseman Danny Black singled in a run to make it a one-run game with runners on first and second and nobody out. Junior outfielder Ricky Eisenberg came in to pinch hit and bunt the runners into scoring position, which he did, but Heaney shut things down from there.

He struck out sophomore center fielder Chris Ellison and Bushyhead to end the Sooners’ rally and even the series at one win apiece.

“Losing the game is disheartening,” Golloway said. “The way we lost it at the end when we had an opportunity; we just need contact to tie the game.”

The honor for Bedlam victor is up for grabs in the series finale. It is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at Bricktown Ballpark, and neither team has announced a starting pitcher yet.