Oklahoma State’s historic season came to a heartbreaking end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 10 seed South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits closed the game on a 16-6 run in the final four minutes, building a lead the Cowgirls could not overcome.

“I thought they made winning plays today,” OSU Cowgirl’s head coach Jacie Hoyt said. “We didn’t make some of those winning plays that we needed to, but at the same time, experience—you just can’t do anything about it, so I know when we’re back here in a year, it’s not going to be the same story.”

A team that was off the national radar five months ago, Oklahoma State finished third in the Big 12 and set multiple program records along the way.

The No. 10 Oklahoma baseball team couldn’t get the bats going Friday night in Game 1 of their series against Mississippi State, losing 2-1.

The Sooners had just four hits as Mississippi State ace Pico Kohn dazzled. He struck out 10 Oklahoma batters and retired 10 straight from the third inning to the sixth, as OU only saw a batter reach third base just one time.

In fact, Oklahoma had its chance in the second inning, loading the bases with one out after Drew Dickerson walked, Sam Christiansen singled, and Dawson Willis was hit by a pitch. But Kohn struck out Dasan Harris swinging and Jason Walk flied out to right to end the threat.

Mississippi State had already pounced. The Bulldogs scored off Oklahoma starter Kyson Witherspoon in the first inning when Bryce Chance hit an RBI single through the left side. Witherspoon wasn’t hit with an earned run, though, as the previous batter, Reed Stallman, reached on an error by Sooners shortstop Jaxon Willits. Sawyer Reeves advanced on the miscue and scored on Chance’s knock.

MSU tacked on an important insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly before Walk pulled the run back with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning. The Sooners saw the potential game-tying run reach base in the ninth when Christiansen walked, but Willis flied out and Brandon Cain struck out to end the game.

Witherspoon was tagged with the loss, his first of the season, despite striking out 11 batters while giving up just five hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. Christiansen and Walk were the only players to reach base more than once. Willits and Easton Carmichael picked up Oklahoma’s two other base hits.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. L. Dale Mitchell Park on Saturday. First pitch should take place just about the time the Oklahoma women’s basketball team is finishing up its first-round NCAA Tournament game against Florida-Gulf Coast at Lloyd Noble Arena.