K-STATE SPORTS
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State completed the series sweep of Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon, as Shintaro Inoue’s two-run walk-off single lifted the Wildcats to a 5-4 victory at Tointon Family Stadium.
“I love seeing our kids play at a high level and pressure situation,” stated head coach Pete Hughes on his team’s third Big 12 series win of the year. “The greatest thing a coach can do is watch that. It means they’re prepared, they have confidence in their preparation, and they have a strong foundation. So that was awesome.”
The Wildcats (19-8, 8-1 Big 12) trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Catcher Bear Madliak doubled to right field before a hit by pitch and clutch RBI-single from pinch hitter Sam Flores brought the game within one.
Dee Kennedy was hit by a pitch to load the bases and force TTU (8-16, 4-5 Big 12) to make a call to the bullpen. With no outs and bases loaded, Inoue laced a 2-2 pitch pass the diving efforts of the Red Raiders’ second baseman to plate the tying- and game-winning runs, handing Wildcats their 10th consecutive victory at home.
“Our bullpen really saved the day, specifically our two seniors, Ty Ruhl and JJ Slack. I’m just happy for guys like Sam Flores, who hasn’t played a whole lot of baseball this spring, but his mindset has never left the ‘team first’. He’s never caught up in himself. He puts himself in a really good place mentally when we call his number. Who knows when we’re going to do it, but we did today, and he was ready. So, a heck of a role model for our younger players. It’s just fun putting yourself in a situation in the ninth inning where you get a chance to win a game and sweep the series. It was a fun day.”
K-State utilized five pitchers in the win with Ruhl and Slack combining for 5 1/3 shutout innings in relief. Slack (1-2), who was awarded his first win of the season, struck out five of the seven batters he faced. The left-hander issued one walk before he struck out the side in the ninth, building momentum heading into the final frame.
Keegan O’Connor, who led the weekend with a .455 average (5-for-11), finished the day 2-for-3 with a double and his second home run of the series. In addition to O’Connor, Inoue also produced a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4. The duo combined for four of the Wildcats’ five RBI.
With the win, the Wildcats recorded their third sweep over Texas Tech in program history and first since 2013. The victory also marks K-State’s second consecutive 19-8 start.
K-State hit .277 (26-for-94) in its third straight home series win against TTU, registering six doubles and six home runs. The Wildcats slugged .532 overall and hit .320 (8-for-25) with runners in scoring position with five two-out RBI.
TTU plated three runs in a three-inning span, led by a two-run blast by first baseman Robin Villeneuve in the first.
The Red Raiders threatened to expand their lead after loading the bases with no outs, but reliever Ty Ruhl retired three straight batters to keep the game within three.
O’Connor ended TTU starter Zane Petty’s no-hit bid in the fourth, doubling into right center and avoiding the diving efforts of the Red Raiders’ center fielder.
After five scoreless innings, the Wildcats broke through with a two-run blast from O’Connor, making it a 3-2 ballgame.
TTU recovered one of the runs handed over in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single.
Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, Slack took the mound and inherited runners on first and second. The left-hander fanned the first two batters he faced before forcing a grounder to second and retired the Red Raiders in order.
Behind scoreless ninth from Slack, Madliak doubled into right field before Kyan Lodice was clipped to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Sam Flores lined a singled to the wall in right field to bring the game within one.
Down 4-3 with no outs, Kennedy was hit by a pitch to load the bases and force TTU to make a pitching change. Facing reliever Zach Crotchfelt, Inoue drove a 2-2 pitch pass the second baseman to score a pair of runs and complete the series sweep.
K-State will face in-state rival Wichita State (10-17) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Eck Stadium, before returning to conference play for a three-game series at Oklahoma State (12-13, 1-6 Big 12), starting Friday.
