MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – For the first time since 1990, K-State completed the sweep of Oklahoma at home as Brady Day’s walk-off single plated the winning-run to lift the Wildcats to an 8-7 victory at Tointon Family Stadium on Sunday.
The Wildcats (17-8, 4-2) went into the ninth inning tied at 7-all when Brady Day launched a 3-2 pitch off the right field wall to capture program’s first home sweep over the Sooners (13-11, 2-4) in 33 years and first Big 12 series sweep since 2013.
“It was a phenomenal weekend for our program and phenomenal team win today,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “To finish a series and get a sweep is critical for us building our national resume.”
“Today doesn’t happen without the bullpen stepping up for us to come back to take this game with the support of big hits from Raphael Pelletier and Brady Day.”
Tyson Neighbors picked up the victory in relief to improve to 3-1 on the season after tossing the final inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Day went 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles while Pelletier hit a double and home run to drive in a game-high three RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cole Johnson’s two-run homer and Pelletier’s solo shot, put K-State on the board as the duo launched back-to-back home runs to take the early 3-0 lead in the second frame.
K-State held off OU until the Sooners strung together five hits in the fourth to grab a three-run lead, 6-3.
The Sooners plated their final run in the seventh with John Spikerman’s deep fly ball to left after a call was overturned to put runners on first and third.
With the Cats down by four, 7-3, Nick Goodwin ignited a four-run inning rally as the Kansas native roped a double off the right field wall to move runners into scoring position. Day walked on six pitches to load the bases for the first time of the day, bringing Cash Rugely to the plate.
The senior from Round Rock, Texas lined a hit into left field to bridge the gap to two leading to the Sooners’ third pitching change. By mere inches, K-State tied the game with a two-out two-RBI double from Pelletier to level the score at 7-all.
Neighbors stepped on to the mound in the final inning to relieve Ty Ruhl where the sophomore set down the Sooners in order, striking out the final batter.
OU reliever Carson Campbell walked the leadoff before Brendan Jones laid down an sac bunt to move the runner to second but the Sooners’ defense was unable to come up with the out for both runners to reach safely. Goodwin walked on four straight pitches to load the bases with the cleanup approaching the plate.
K-State looked to draw their seventh walk of the game as Day led the count with three balls until the sophomore fought off five pitches to load the count.
With one out, Day blasted his second hit of the day up against the right center wall to seal the Cats historic walk-off sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Wildcats scored eight runs on 10 hits with two errors and four left on base
- Seven Cats recorded hits with three recording multiple hits
- Day went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI
- Pelletier led with three RBI to match a career-best
- The Cats pitching staff allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts
- Johnson and Pelletier homered in consecutive at bats in the second
- Five Wildcat pitchers combined to strikeout out five with four walks
- The bullpen surrendered three runs (two earned) over 5 2/3 innings
- Sooners utilized five pitchers, who totaled just three strikeouts with six walks
- Ruhl was awarded the victory after tossing the final shutout inning with a pair of strikeouts
- Campbell received the loss after allowing the winning-run with one walk, recording one out
- Madron and Clark each went 2-for-4 to lead the Sooners
- K-State hit .500 with runners in scoring position and .273 with two outs
- OU was 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position and 2-for-10 with two away
- Pelletier had a 1.500 slug percentage with a double and homer to right
NOTES
- Cats collected their first Big 12 series sweep since 2013 at Kansas (May 10-12)
- Sunday marked the first series sweep over OU since 1990 (4-0)
- K-State is off to a 4-2 start in conference play for the first time since 2010
- Wildcats move to 11-1 at home and 56-15 since 2021
- K-State ties second in the Big 12 at 4-2 alongside Oklahoma State and TCU
- Brendan Jones reached base for the 15th straight game
- Cats recorded their second walk-off victory of the season; Stonehill on March 6 (6-5)
- K-State hit back-to-back home runs for the first time since April 19, 2022 against Omaha with Jeff Heinrich and Raphael Pelletier
- Day went 5-for-10 (.500) in the OU series with three RBI and three runs
- Cats hit .253 in the series outscoring the Sooners 22-14
ON DECK
K-State will head to Colorado Springs, Colo., on March 28-29 for a two-game series against Air Force at Falcon Field. The non-conference set will be streamed on the Mountain West Broadcast with radio coverage on KMAN (93.3FM/1350AM) and a free live audio available at kstatesports.com/watch.
