STILLWATER, Oklahoma — Vermilion's Andy Oliver evened his pitching record at 5-5 after striking out nine batters, in an Oklahoma State 5-3 loss to Kansas State last Friday night at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Oklahoma.

"I felt good," Oliver said. "Going out there after the fourth inning, I felt pretty comfortable. I was just going to go as many innings as I could, and I felt fine. Things just didn’t go our way."

Oliver allowed nine hits but struck out nine and didn’t walk any in 8 2/3 innings. The No. 16 Wildcats were able to find success against him, scoring two runs in each the third and fourth innings.

OSU coach Frank Anderson said he thought Oliver pitched well after the fifth inning, but decided to pull Oliver with two outs in the top of the ninth.

"He was at a pitch limit," OSU coach Frank Anderson said. "I wanted him to face through the left-hander, and after that, I thought it was a situation where there is no need for him to go more right there and get somebody out ... I thought obviously he was better from the fifth on."

The Cowboys are currently 30-21 and still have a chance of qualify for the Big 12 Championships. They'll have to sweep Texas Tech and Nebraska will have to sweep Baylor for OSU to qualify.

swalker@MorningJournal.com