MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Sophomore Brendan Jones’ two-run RBI triple plated the game-winning run as K-State clinched the Big 12 series over No. 14 Texas Tech with a 10-8 thriller on Sunday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
“That was one of the best games that I’ve been a part of in my career,” head coach Pete Hughes said on his team’s comeback victory. “The back-and-forth, the fight, the resiliency, getting big hits and making big pitches. That was college baseball at its best.”
After four lead changes the Wildcats (28-17, 11-7 Big 12) entered the eighth inning with a one-run deficit until Jones launched his only hit of the series off the wall to give K-State its third conference series win of the season.
“That was awesome. He’s the ultimate team player. He never feels sorry for himself, and he knows if he’s not hitting, he’s going to help the team win in some way,” said Hughes.
The victory moves K-State back to second in the league standings alongside Oklahoma State while TTU (30-15) drops to 9-9 in conference action.
After giving up a three-run homer, Tyson Neighbors fanned two batters to keep the game within two until the sophomore struck out the side in the eighth to keep momentum in the Cats dugout. The Royse City, Texas product was awarded the victory in relief to move to 4-1 on the year.
“I was shocked by that homer against Tyson,” Hughes commented. “We’ve become so accustomed to seeing him dominate people that that was the last thing I thought was going to happen, but I was really proud of the way he came back.”
“He kept pitching and didn’t let it deflate his performance at all. He gave us a chance to win that game because of how he handled adversity.”
Jones and Roberto Pena each drove in two RBI while seven Wildcats registered a hit led by Kaelen Culpepper and Cole Johnson who went 2-for-4 at the plate.
“It’s a time to be great.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cats grabbed the lead in the second frame with a pair of runs after Cole Johnson and Roberto Pena each tallied an RBI single.
Texas Tech scored in two straight innings to grab a 5-2 lead led by Dylan Maxcey’s two-run double in the third.
Kaelen Culpepper roped a 2-0 pitch into left field to lead off the inning until a walk and fly ball moved runners into scoring position with Raphael Pelletier up to bat. The Quebec, Canada native laced an RBI single into right before Pena hit a sac fly to bring the game back within one, 5-4.
K-State took advantage of three walks and two hit batters to take the lead, 6-5, in the sixth.
The Red Raiders landed runners on base with a pair of singles in the next inning before Austin Green launched a three-run homer over the right field wall to put TTU ahead, 8-6. The Wildcats scored the seventh run on a wild pitch to make it a one run ball game.
Neighbors built momentum for the Cats as he struck out the side in the eighth where the Cats bats came to life. Roberto Pena walked to start off the rally before the senior advanced to second on a sac bunt. Another walk and wild pitch moved runners into scoring position, bringing up Jones with one out.
After coach Hughes called an offensive timeout, Jones fought his way to a full count until the sophomore from Greenbrier, Tenn., drove the seventh pitch off the right center wall to score the game-winning run. Nick Goodwin added insurance to the board in the next at bat with a grounder to second to bring home Jones.
The Cats picked up two quick outs in the final inning until Neighbors struck out the final batter in three pitches to seal the series win.
INSIDE THE BOX
- K-State scored 10 runs on nine hits with no errors and eight left on base
- Jones hit a two-run triple to score the game-winning run
- Seven Wildcats produced a hit; two with multiple
- Culpepper and Johnson went 2-for-4
- Pena and Jones lead with two RBI
- Neighbors received the victory to move to 4-1
- K-State’s pitching staff struck out 11 batters
- Ruhl tossed a game-high 3 1/3 innings
- TTU plated eight runs on eight hits with one error and six left on base
- The Red Raiders sent eight pitchers to the mound
- Girton received the loss allowing the final three runs
NOTES
- K-State won its third Big 12 series of the season
- Cats tie second in the league standings at 11-7 with Oklahoma State
- K-State improves to 15-6 at home this season
- Johnson expanded his hit streak out to nine
- Rugely extended his on-base streak to 27 straight games followed by Day (25) and Pelletier (21)
- K-State is 34-55-1 against Texas Tech
- Cats are 21-18 against the Red Raiders in Manhattan
ON DECK
K-State faces in-state rival Wichita State (26-16, 10-4 American) on Tuesday, May 2 at 6 p.m. inside Eck Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with radio coverage on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). Live streaming audio is available for all games at kstatesports.com/watch and the K-State Sports app.
