FORT WORTH, Texas (K-State Athletics) – Thirteen strikeouts from the TCU pitching staff spearheaded the Horned Frogs to a 12-0 victory in the series opener at Lupton Stadium Friday night.
K-State (25-16, 9-10 Big 12) allowed runs in four of the first five innings, including four in the second and third. The Horned Frogs (25-15, 9-13 Big 12) used 17 hits to score 12 runs to back right-handed starter Payton Tolle.
The Wichita State transfer held the Wildcats to three hits in his five innings to pick up his fifth victory with TCU (5-4). Tolle, a right-hander from Yukon, Okla., finished the game with seven strikeouts and issued four walks.
“Difficult to play from behind versus a premiere arm,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “I have confidence in our team and how we’ll respond.”
K-State starting pitcher Ty Ruhl (1-2) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs, all earned, on four hits in his one inning.
Jacob Frost logged 3 1/3 innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts. Relievers Cole Wisenbaker and Preston Martinez each turned in a scoreless inning for the Cats.
Four different Wildcats generated a hit led by Kaelen Culpepper, who finished the night 2-for-4 with a walk, while the Frogs issued eight walks to K-State.
THE RUNDOWN
TCU took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame, until the Horned Frogs exploded for four runs in the second led off by a solo shot to right field by Luke Boyers in the second inning.
The Frogs used four hits in the third to tag on four runs to their lead, 9-0.
Tolle took a one-hitter into the fourth inning until Jayden Lobliner punched the first pitch through the left side and advanced to second on a two-out single from Jaden Parsons.
Andrew Mosiello relieved Tolle in the sixth inning and struck out two in his first inning. The righty finished with six strikeouts and scattered two hits to Culpepper and Danniel Rivera.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State generated four hits with two errors committed and stranded 12 men on base.
- TCU scored 12 runs on 17 hits, committed one error, and left 11 runners on base.
- Three Wildcats hit in the nightcap, led by Culpepper going 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Wisenbaker and Martinez each turned in a shutout inning in relief.
- Ruhl suffered the loss, allowing five runs, all earned, on four hits with two walks (1-2).
- TCU’s Tolle (5-3) picked up the victory, scattering three hits with seven strikeouts in his five shutout innings.
- Frost logged 3 1/3 innings with one unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts.
- K-State was 3-for-15 (.200) with runners on base and 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while TCU hit .357 (10-for-28) with men on base and was 6-for-19 (.545) in scoring position.
- The Cats hit .250 (3-for-12) with two outs and TCU hit .222 (2-for-9) with two outs, including three two-out RBI.
NOTES
- TCU leads the all-time series 31-13, including a 22-9 record in Big 12 action.
- K-State is 3-18 in games played in Fort Worth.
- The Wildcats 6-12 against the Frogs in the Hughes era.
- On the road, K-State is 9-11 and 7-10 in true road games and 4-6 record in Big 12 action.
- The shutout marks the second time this season K-State was shut out (April 16 at UConn, 4-0).
ON DECK
The Wildcats and Horned Frogs will be back for round two at Lupton Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the series finale scheduled to follow approximately 45 minutes at the conclusion of Game 1 of the doubleheader. Saturday’s games can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). A free live streaming audio available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
How to follow the ‘Cats: Stay up to date on K-State baseball online at www.kstatesports.com and on the team’s social media channels on Facebook, X formally known as Twitter and Instagram.
