Kansas State found a formula that worked for two games in a row, and now it’s up to Texas Tech to make sure the Wildcats don’t leave behind a blueprint for the rest of the Big 12 Conference.
The Red Raiders arrived in central Kansas this week as a team on a major roll when their series against K-State began but headed home a crew searching for some answers after back-to-back losses – the latest a 10-4 clunker in the series finale on Saturday at Tointon Family Stadium.
Coupled with a 7-2 loss on Friday, 4th-ranked Texas Tech lost its first series of the season, its first in league play since April 12-14, 2019 at West Virginia, and its first to the Wildcats since 2013.
The second setback looked a lot like the first, which isn’t push-the-panic button worrisome but is certainly attention-getting.
K-State (15-11, 2-3 Big 12) used the long ball early and often, got another stout performance from a starting pitcher, and unsolvable relief work to stick Texas Tech with a loss when it only had a handful of chances to tie the game or go ahead after the 1st inning.
The Red Raiders (20-6, 3-3) finished with a single-digit hit total (7) for the second day in a row, didn’t have one with two outs (0-for-8), and scuffled again to come through in the clutch (1-for-6).
Bright spots were few and far between: Dillon Carter’s two-run double in the 4th inning and Cody Masters’ two-run home run in the 7th. Even those big swings got dimmed, though, when Texas Tech went 0-for-5 after scoring those runs.
The 2nd inning was particularly frustrating when Carter was stranded with the tying run after his double pulled Texas Tech within 3-2 with no outs but he never got any closer to home.
This was a silver lining-free day for the Red Raiders in a season full of big moments and bunches of success – with a ton of credit to the suddenly surging Wildcats.
In an almost carbon copy of Friday night, K-State jumped in front with a three-run 1st inning powered by two home runs. Nick Goodwin belted one after Dom Hughes led off and drew the first of his three walks, and Chris Ceballos stung a first-pitch offering from Texas tech starter Mason Montgomery over the center-field fence for the 3-0 advantage.
The Red Raiders answered earlier than the previous game on Carter’s two-run knock, but Wildcats’ starter Connor McCullough buckled down by striking out Jace Jung, getting Kurt Wilson on a roller to second base and Braxton Fulford on a routine fly ball to right field.
K-State wiped out the chance for Texas Tech to create momentum with a 5-run 5th inning. Three walks helped set the table – one forcing in a run. A bases-loaded chopper to second base scored another run and Cameron Thompson supplied a loud exclamation point with a three-run bomb on an 0-and-2 pitch that created an 8-2 deficit.
Masters sliced the deficit in half when he left the yard off McCullough in the 7th inning. But the Wildcat right-hander didn’t flinch and struck out Parker Kelly looking and Dylan Neuse for the second time to end an inning after serving up the gopher ball.
Emblematic of the last two days, K-State got those two runs right back in the bottom of the 7th against Tech’s bullpen when Dylan Phillips yanked the Wildcats’ fourth big fly of the day to start the frame and Cameron Uselton chased home Thompson with a two-out base hit.
The difference between the series opener and the final two games was stark in the power department. The Red Raiders unloaded six home runs in a 17-1 triumph and went long only once more in the final 18 innings. Meanwhile, K-State deposited seven balls over the fence in its two victories.
Getting the bad taste out of their mouths will have to wait until Friday and the task won’t be easy as current Big 12 leader TCU rolls into Lubbock for a three-game series. The No. 12/11-ranked Horned Frogs (19-7, 5-0) look for a sweep at Oklahoma on Sunday, which would extend their winning streak to a season-best nine games.
