K-State Travels to Oklahoma in Crucial Big 12 Battle
May 02, 2002 | Baseball
May 2, 2002
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (23-20, 8-10 Big 12)
AT OKLAHOMA SOONERS (26-20, 8-10 Big 12)
May 3-4-5, 2002
L. Dale Mitchell Park (2,700)Norman, Okla.Game Times: 7 p.m. / 7 p.m. / 1 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
May 3 * Oklahoma * 7 p.m.
KS - Sr. RHP Ross Hawley (1-4, 5.67 ERA)
OU - Fr. LHP David Purcey (3-3, 3.04 ERA)
NOTE: Leads the staff in starts (12), while is second in innings (60.1) and strikeouts (40)... Had his worst outing of the year vs. #15 Baylor, allowing 7 runs (all earned) on 9 hits with 3 BBs and 1 K in 2.0 IP... Was coming off a strong effort vs. #9 Texas (4/19).
May 4 * Oklahoma * 7 p.m.
KS - Sr. LHP Brock Smith (3-5, 6.00 ERA)
OU - Jr. RHP Austin Mix (4-5, 7.07 ERA)or Fr. RHP Jarod McAuliff (1-2, 5.50 ERA)
NOTE: Had his best outing of the year against #15 Baylor, allowing 3 earned runs (5 total) on 9 hits with 4 K's and 0 BBs in a season-best 7.1 inning (4/27)... Also solid at #16 Texas A&M (4/13).
May 5 * Oklahoma * 1 p.m.
KS - Jr. RHP Kevin Melcher (5-4, 2.77 ERA)
OU - So. LHP Buddy Blair (3-0, 5.82 ERA)
NOTE: Leads all pitchers in ERA, win, innings (61.2) and strikeouts (45)... Has allowed just 11 walks in 12 appearances... Had his third straight tough outing vs. #15 Baylor, allowing 4 runs (0 earned) on 4 hits with 2 BBs and 2 K's in 6-5 loss to the Bears (4/28).
SERIES HISTORY
Oklahoma leads 159-60-1 (series dates to 1913)
In Norman: Oklahoma leads 83-20-1
In Big 12 play: Oklahoma leads 12-3
Last K-State win: 5-2 in Manhattan, April 15, 2001
Last K-State win in Norman: 14-11, May 14, 1993
Last Meeting(s): K-State took 2 of 3 last season to take the season series for the first time since 1990.
Notes: K-State has lost 14 in a row in Norman.
COACHES
Kansas State - Mike Clark (Missouri Western, '75) is in his 16th season at K-State with a career record of 413-447 (.480). He is 706-583 (.548) in his 23rd season as a head coach. He owns a 17-41 record vs. OU, including a 3-24 mark in Norman against the Sooners.
Oklahoma - Larry Cochell (Arizona State, '64) is in his 12th season at Oklahoma with a record of 441-274-1 (.616). The 6th-winningest active coach in the NCAA, Cochell has a 1,237-729-3 (.628) mark in 35 years as a head coach at seven schools. He owns a 47-13 career record against K-State, including 30-11 mark at OU. He is 17-2 vs. the Wildcats at L. Dale Mitchell.
RANKINGS
Neither Kansas State nor Oklahoma is not ranked in any of the three major college baseball polls.
LAST TIME OUT
K-State went 3-1 last week, posting a 24-9 victory over Creighton before taking 2 of 3 from #15 Baylor over the weekend for the first time in school history.
Oklahoma snapped a 4-game losing streak with a pair of wins over McNeese State on Tues. and Wed.
WHO'S HOT FOR KANSAS STATE
3B Ty Soto was named the Big 12's co-Player of the Week after posting a .688 average last week with 8 runs and 7 RBIs. He hit .750 in series vs. #15 Baylor.
RHP Eric Rollins did a masterful job in relief on Fri., allowing just 1 R on 7 H the last 5 IP vs. #15 Baylor.
RADIO/INTERNET
Live on SportsRadio 1350 KMAN on Friday - Matt Walters/ Eric Pederson call the action. Live on WIBW-580 AM on Saturday and tape delayed on Sunday - Walters/Pederson call the action.
K-STATE TRAVELS TO NORMAN TO FACE TOUGH SOONERS...
Looking to build on the momentum gained in its series win over 15th-ranked Baylor last weekend, Kansas State (23-20, 8-10 Big 12) hits the road for a pivotal Big 12 Conference series, as the Wildcats travel to Norman, Okla., to face Oklahoma (26-20, 8-10 Big 12) for a three-game series at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
Both teams are currently tied for the eighth and final spot in the Big 12 Tournament with just three weeks left in the regular season. The two teams are just percentage points behind Oklahoma State (8-9) and Missouri (9-11), who stand in sixth and seventh place. With every team except Texas with at least 10 league losses, the last three weeks of the season should be exciting. Only 2.5 games separate third place (Baylor) from eighth place as we approach the weekend.
The two teams will tip off the series with a 7 p.m. first pitch on Friday then play again at 7 p.m. on Saturday before concluding the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by Sports Radio 1350-KMAN on Friday and on tape-delayed status on Wildcat Sports Network (580 AM) on Saturday and Sunday.
Although Oklahoma has been in and out of the polls much of the season, it will mark the first conference series of the season against a team that isn't ranked in one of the three major polls. Kansas State has faced a ranked foe in 10 of its last 14 series, including six in a row to start conference play. Of the Wildcats' last 24 games, 20 have been against teams ranked in one of three major polls.
RECAPPING THE BAYLOR SERIES...
Kansas State earned its first-ever series win over Baylor over the weekend, and in doing so, posted season series wins over two teams from the state of Texas for the first time in school history.
The Wildcats rallied from an 8-0 deficit in game one for a 14-9 victory then made it two in a row with a 12-9 win on Saturday. The team almost earned its first-ever sweep of a Texas school on Sunday, rallying from a 6-1 deficit with four runs in the ninth.
Kansas State posted a .312 batting average and scored 31 runs off 34 hits - including 27 singles - in the three-game series. The heart of the Wildcat line-up - Pat Maloney, Tim Doty and Ty Soto - did the most damage against the Bears, connecting on 18 hits with 16 runs scored and 14 RBIs. Soto led all hitters with his .750 average (9-of-12) with five RBIs and five runs scored.
PREVIEWING OKLAHOMA...
Oklahoma (26-20, 8-10 Big 12) snapped a season-long four-game losing streak with back-to-back wins over McNeese State on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Sooners were coming off a tough weekend in Lubbock, in which, they lost all three to upstart Texas Tech.
Oklahoma started the season with 15 wins in its first 20 games, including three-game sweeps of SE Missouri State and Missouri and a series win in Tempe against nationally-ranked Arizona State. However, since that series win over the Sun Devils, the Sooners are just 11-15 overall, including 5-10 in league play. However, in that 26-game span, OU does have wins over Baylor (two), Texas, Nebraska, TCU and Oral Roberts (three).
The Sooners finish the season with a three-game series at Kansas and its Bedlam series with OSU.
WHO TO WATCH FOR OKLAHOMA...
C Ryan Richardson leads six Sooners hitting over .300 with a .333 batting average in 34 games. LF Jason Fransz is just points behind at .326 and paces the team in runs (44), hits (56), home runs (10), RBIs (40), total bases (103) and on-base percentage (.424). Fransz and SS Denver Kitch, who paces the team with 27 stolen bases, have started all 46 games this year. 2B Eddie Cornejo posts a .308 average with team-tying 56 hits, while 1B Charlie Frasier adds 33 runs and 30 RBIs.The pitching staff has a 5.35 ERA in 407.0 innings pitched this season with 339 strikeouts to 186 walks. Opposing batters are hitting just .287. The pitching staff has been rocked by injuries, including one last week to No. 1 starter Mark Roberts.LHP David Purcey will start Friday and posts a 3.04 ERA and 3-3 record to go with six saves. He has 54 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched. Saturday's starter will either be RHPs Austin Mix or Jarod McAuliff. Mix is 4-5 with a 6.75 ERA in 17 appearances and 45 strikeouts, while McAuliff is 1-2 with a 5.50 ERA in 17 appearances and 28 strikeouts. Sunday starter is LHP Buddy Blair, who is 3-0 with a 5.82 ERA in 15 appearances.
SERIES VERSUS OKLAHOMA...
In a series that began in 1913, Oklahoma has a commanding 159-60-1 advantage in the all-time meetings with Kansas State. The 220 total meetings between the longtime conference rivals represent the fourth-longest series in school history behind Kansas (294), Missouri (239), and Nebraska (235). The two have met at least twice every year since 1960 (with the exception of 1975).
Last season, Kansas State took the season series for the first time since 1990 by winning two of three games in Manhattan on April 13-15.
Oklahoma holds a 83-20-1 advantage in games played in Norman, including a 14-game home winning streak against K-State that dates back to 1993. The Wildcats' last win came in a 14-11 decision on May 14, 1993. The team hasn't taken a season series on Oklahoma's home soil since April 23-24, 1971. Since that series win in 1971, the Wildcats are a combined 6-48 against the Sooners in Norman. In the last visit to Norman in 2000, the Sooners swept the three-game series by scores of 6-4, 4-1 and 11-7.
WILDCAT CONNECTIONS TO OKLAHOMA...
Six Wildcats call Oklahoma home, including three starters - RF Gabe Luttrell (Midwest City), DH Tim Doty (Oklahoma City) and C Ryan Baldwin (Tulsa). RHP Eric Rollins (Ada), C Jeremy Rogers (Morris) and 2B Jason Long (Midwest City) also hail from the Sooner State. Wildcat assistant coaches - Mike Hensley (Ada) and Steve Miller (El Reno) - are also from Oklahoma, while Norman is a special place for Hensley, who played for the Sooners from 1986-88. He was a first team All-Big Eight selection in 1988. Head coach Mike Clark coached at NE Oklahoma A&M from 1980-86 before assuming the reins at Kansas State in 1987.
WILDCAT PLAYERS VERSUS OKLAHOMA...
This will be the first appearance for many Wildcat players against Oklahoma, as just five Wildcats - Nick Sorensen, Pat Maloney, Osmar Castillo, Ty Soto and Brad Anzman - have seen action against the Sooners.
Soto and Maloney were the most successful last year, as both hit over .400 in the series. Maloney hit .400 with four RBIs, three RBIs and two home runs, while Soto registered a .417 average with a RBI.
As a team, the Wildcats hit .263 a year ago versus the Sooners with 12 runs on 25 hits, including five extra-base hits, and 19 strikeouts and nine walks.
RHP Kevin Melcher picked up his second win of the season in his start last year versus the Sooners, allowing two runs on eight hits with a strikeout and two walks in seven innings. LHP Brock Smith collected his third loss of the season, as he allowed four runs on seven hits in 5-1/3 innings with four strikeouts.
OFFENSE THE NAME OF THE GAME...
After a stellar offensive week, in which, the team posted a .340 batting average and scored 55 runs, Kansas State again proved it has one of the most productive offenses in recent years. The team is on-track to score 413 runs (7.8/game) on 610 hits (11.5/game) with 366 RBIs (6.9/game) and 856 total bases (16.1/game). It would be the highest run, hit and RBI totals since the record-setting 1997 squad, while the total base tally would be the most since 1999. The current batting average of .314 is the highest since the 1997 team batted .326.
After last weekend's offensive explosion versus Baylor, the Wildcats have tallied a .314 batting average through 43 games with 336 runs scored on 495 hits, 295 RBIs and 691 total bases. Here's a breakdown of how the 'Cat offense ranks with those of the past five years:
SINGLE-HANDEDLY WINNING GAMES...
One of the most interesting notes about the improved-offensive prowess of the team is that they are doing it with singles. Lots of singles. One announcer even stated that K-State is the type of the team that will "single you to death." Ironically, the 'Cats had 22 hits - all singles - in their 15-inning win over Texas Tech on April 5.
Of the Wildcats' 495 hits this season, 369 have been singles compared to just 126 extra-base (87 doubles, 8 triples and 31 home runs). That means that 74.5 percent of the Wildcat offense comes from singles.
With an average of 8.6 singles/game and 10 games remaining of the schedule, K-State is on-track for 456, which would shatter the team school-record for singles (442, 1988). In fact, the Wildcats have tallied over 400 singles just four times (1988, 1991, 1997 and 1999) in the program's 102-year history.
OKAY, MAYBE NOT ROAD WARRIORS, BUT...
One of the biggest reasons for K-State's improved play overall and in the Big 12 Conference has been the Wildcats' ability to play better on the road. After last Wednesday's win at Creighton that earned the Wildcats' their fourth win on the road, the team has already equaled or surpassed the total of road wins the last four seasons.
At 3-3 on the road in the league, K-State has already surpassed the win totals of 1998, 2000, 2001 and are just one away from equaling 1999. The three wins were significant - not for the obvious reasons - but for the location - at Texas Tech and Texas A&M. The Wildcats were 0-6 lifetime in Lubbock before earning a two wins in early April, while they were just 1-9 in College Station before gaining a 7-6 win on April 13. It was the first win on the road vs. the Aggies in 11 years (1991).
Whether or not K-State can make it to their first Big 12 Tournament will largely determine how well the Wildcats play on the road, as seven of their last nine league games are away from home with games at Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.
The Wildcats have lost 14 in a row in Norman against Oklahoma and have not won a series against the Sooners on the road since 1971. The team hasn't done any better against Missouri, losing six of their last eight in Columbia with no road series win since 1995.
SCORING IN BUNCHES...
The three biggest innings for the Kansas State offense seem to be the third, fourth and fifth innings where the Wildcats outscore their opponents by a combined total of 150-86. In fact, K-State is outscored in five of the other six innings. Nearly 45 percent of the team's runs are scored in these three innings. In last week's 55-run barrage against Creighton and Baylor, the 'Cats scored 30 (55 percent) of their runs in these innings.
SCORING WITH TWO OUTS...
Despite being down two outs in an inning, Kansas State has shown an impressive streak of scoring runs this year. Of the 336 runs scored this season, 127 or 37.8 percent of them, have been scored with two outs in an inning. In last week's 55-run outburst, 21 runs were scored with two outs, including 13 of the 24 scored against Creighton last Wednesday. Of the 41 games the team has scored, 36 have had at least one run scored with two outs. The team has scored four or more runs on two outs an amazing 14 times this season, including six or more on seven occasions.
FOUR WILDCATS IN TOP 20 IN BIG 12 HITTING...
For just the third time this season, four Wildcats - Pat Maloney, Ty Soto, Brett Williams, and Tim Doty rank among the top 20 in hitting in the Big 12 Conference.
It marks the seventh straight week that the trio of Maloney, Doty and Soto rank among the Big 12's top 20 in hitting, while Williams makes his first appearance.
Kansas State is lone league school to have four player rank among the top 20 in hitting.Maloney leads the conference for the seventh straight week, while Soto places 10th, Williams 18th and Doty 19th. Aside from Maloney ranking in the top 10 in eight categories, Soto ranks seventh in on-base percentage (.461).
In conference-only statistics, the Wildcats also have four Wildcats - Soto, Williams, Maloney and Osmar Castillo - rank among the top 20 in batting. Soto ranks 2nd, Williams 10th, Maloney 11th and Castillo 16th.
As a team, K-State ranks 4th in Big 12 in team batting with a .314 average, while the pitching staff places 7th among the league schools with a 5.16 ERA.
A TOUGH STRETCH...
Kansas State finally finished one of the roughest portions of its schedule with their series against nationally-ranked Baylor. Nine of the team's last 13 opponents have been ranked in the Top 25. However, despite the harsh schedule, there has been some success for the Wildcats. Seven of the Wildcats' last 12 wins have come against ranked foes (No. 20 Oklahoma State, No. 8 Nebraska, No. 28 Texas Tech, No. 16 Texas A&M, No. 15 Baylor), while 14 of their last 15 losses have been to teams ranked in either of three major polls (Fla. Atlantic, Fla. International, Rutgers, OSU, Nebraska, Wichita State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Texas and Baylor).
PAT THE BAT...
After a stellar sophomore season, in which, he was named first team All-Big 12 by the league coaches, OF Pat Maloney has continued where we left off in 2001. The Overland Park, Kan., native, continues to lead the Big 12 Conference in hitting for the seventh consecutive week with a .414 average in 43 games this season. He also ranks among the conference's Top 10 in nine offensive categories, including ranking in the top 5 in hits (71), home runs (10), RBIs (45), total bases (117), on-base percentage (.486) and slugging percentage (.676). He is one of first league players to tally 100 total bases this season.
Maloney leads the team in nearly every offensive category (16 in all), including games played and started (43), at-bats (173), multiple-hit games (22) and multiple-RBI games (10). Already this season, he has had a 10-game, an eight-game and two seven-game hitting streak (which is current). He has reached base in 40 of the Wildcats' 43 games, including 21 in a row dating back to the Oklahoma State series. He also has a hit in 37 of the 43 games. Last season, he tallied the third-longest hitting streak in school history at 20 games.
Even in the midst of just of his junior season, he is within striking distance of the K-State career top 10 in nearly every offensive category. His .370 career batting average would tie him for fifth all-time with Glynn Perry (1980-82), while his 25th career home run against Texas on April 21 gave him seventh place all-time.
TY-RRIFIC...
Sophomore 3B Ty Soto was selected as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball co-Player of the Week, along with Baylor junior first baseman Mike Huggins, on Monday after his impressive performance at the plate in helping Kansas State to a 3-1 record last week, including its first series win over 15th-ranked Baylor over the weekend.
Soto was a major part of a Kansas State offense that posted a .340 batting average and scored 55 runs in four games last week. For the week, he hit .688 (11-of-16) with two doubles and a home run and earned eight runs scored and seven RBIs. In all, he tallied a .750 on-base percentage with three walks and a hit-by-pitch and struck just once. Against Baylor's vaulted pitching staff, Soto posted a .750 average (9-of-12) with five RBIs and five runs scored. In the first game on Friday, he helped the Wildcats' rally from an 8-0 deficit for a 14-9 victory that snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Bears. He went 3-for-4 in the game with three runs scored and two RBIs, including a solo home run in the fifth inning that gave the Wildcats the lead for good at 10-8. On Saturday, he posted his second five-hit game of the season, as he went a perfect 5-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Soto currently ranks second behind Pat Maloney in six offensive categories, including batting average (.368), hits (60), RBIs (36), total bases (76), multiple-RBI games (10) and on-base percentage (.461). He also places among the top 5 on the team in several other categories, including runs scored (34), at-bats (163), doubles (10), multiple-hit games (15) and walks (20). In conference games, he is performing even better, posting a team-best .389 batting average with 15 RBIs and 13 runs scored in 18 games.
Soto is Kansas State's second Big 12 Player of the Week and third Wildcat overall to receive either Player or Pitcher of the Week accolades this season. Junior right-handed pitcher Mitch Walter was named the conference's co-Pitcher of the Week on April 8, while senior shortstop Osmar Castillo was honored as the Player of the Week on April 1. In all, Soto is the 12th Kansas State player to be named the conference player/pitcher of the week since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997.
BALDWIN NOT JUST HAVE ONE BIG DAY...
C/DH Ryan Baldwin is coming off one of the most impressive individual performances in school history. The Tulsa, Okla., native went 4-for-5 with two home runs, four runs scored and a near-school record nine RBIs against Creighton last Wednesday. He tied individual season-highs in home runs, runs scored and RBIs, while his RBI total was one short of the school-record of 10 held by Bill Barnard against Iowa State on May 1, 1988. It also marked the second straight week that Baldwin had a grand slam after having one against Bethany (4/17). Although he saw his nine-game hitting streak end on Sunday against Baylor, he is hitting .388 (14-of-36) over the last over the last 10 games with 20 RBIs, eight runs and three homers.
BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS...
CF Nick Sorensen has bounced back the last couple of weeks after struggling for most of the early part of the schedule. Sorensen, a co-captain who came into the season with high hopes after a solid and productive junior season, hit just .200 (10-for-50) in the first 27 games of the season with eight runs scored and six RBIs. He also walked just three time, while striking out 19 times.
However, since a 3-for-6 performance against No. 28 Texas Tech in the Wildcats' 15-inning victory, Sorensen has been a mainstay of the lineup. In the last 14 games, he hitting .292 (14-for-48) with nine RBIs and seven runs scored. He has also walked more (four) and has cut his strikeouts down to 13 in that span.
On the season, he is hitting .262 with 18 runs scored and 17 RBIs in 39 games and 25 starts.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES...
RHP Kevin Melcher has quietly become the ace of the pitching staff in 2002, as he leads the team in wins (five), ERA (2.77), innings pitched (61.2), strikeouts (45) and least number of batters walked (11), while he is second in game starts (10). The team's usual No. 3 starter has been one of the main reasons for the Wildcats' improved play in 2002. The junior, who transferred from TCU last season, had his four-game winning streak snapped in the Wildcats' 6-5 loss at Texas A&M. Before the loss, he had picked up wins against No. 28 Texas Tech and No. 8 Nebraska and helped the team in their victory over No. 20 Oklahoma State.
With 10 games left in the season, Melcher has already surpassed most of his totals from the 2001 season. Last season, he had a 3-3 record and 5.02 ERA in 13 appearances and 10 starts with 19 walks and 26 strikeouts. This season, he has a 5-4 record and 2.77 ERA in 12 appearances and 10 starts with 11 walks and 45 strikeouts. In conference play, Melcher has improved his win total by just one, but has cut his ERA from 5.17 in 2001 to 2.45 in 2002 and has just nine walks this season compared to 15 last year.
WILL (IAMS) TO WIN...
Although he saw his nine-game hitting streak end at Texas A&M on April 12, 1B Brett Williams again proved his offensive might last Wednesday against Bethany. He paced the team with his second four-hit game of the season with three runs scored and three RBIs. Williams hit an impressive .552 (16-for-29) at the plate during his nine-game hitting streak with six runs scored and three RBIs during his streak. The average is even more impressive once you consider he has spent most of that period hitting in the seventh, eighth and ninth slots of lineup. He went 8-for-14 (.571) with a pair of runs scored in the series against Texas Tech, including a key 4-for-6 evening with two runs and a walk in the 15-inning win.
The Wildcats' third-leading hitter at .352 (34-for-96) with 18 runs scored and 18 RBIs, he ranks 18th in the Big 12 in overall hitting and 10th in conference-only games with s .362 (25-for-69) average in 18 games.
SMARTY PANTS...
Kansas State has two strong candidates for Academic All-American distinction this season with the emergence of RHP Kevin Melcher and DH Tim Doty. Both players have been significant factors in the Wildcats' success this season and also post GPA of above 3.6.
Melcher leads the pitching staff in a number of categories, including wins (five), ERA (2.77), innings pitched (61.2), strikeouts (45) and least number of batters walked (11), while he is second in game starts (10).
After an injury-plagued career, Doty has broken out in 2002 as the Wildcats' principle designated hitter. He ranks fourth on the team with a .347 batting average. He is second on the team in home runs (five), RBIs (36), slugging percentage (.528), walks (22) and on-base percentage (.459). He has 10 multiple-RBI games and 16 multiple-hit games this season.
Melcher has a 3.889 GPA in Geography and Environmental Sciences, while Doty has a 3.552 GPA in accounting.
DEVIL(S) OF A PICK-UP...
Kansas State got some much needed pitching help before the start of the spring semester, as LHPs Franco Pezely and Jonathan Gutierrez transferred from Arizona State. One of the biggest reasons for the improved bullpen, Pezely holds a 4-2 record and 2.88 ERA, along with three saves, in a team-high 17 appearances this year, while Gutierrez has a 4-0 mark and 4.19 ERA in 10 appearances and six starts.
Pezely pitched well in two relief appearances against No. 15 Baylor last weekend. On Friday, he picked up his third save of the season, as he allowed one run on three in three innings of relief. The performances against the Bears came off an impressive effort against No. 9 Texas the previous weekend. In 5.2 innings of work against the Longhorns, the senior allowed just two earned runs (three total) on three hits with 10 strikeouts and just two walks. Longhorn hitters batted just .150 against the crafty left-hander. In the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, he came in the sixth in relief of starter Brock Smith and allowed just one earned run (two total) on one hit with a season-high seven strikeouts and one walk. In Big 12 play, he has a 2-0 record (both wins against No.8 Nebraska and No. 20 Oklahoma State) and a 3.44 ERA in seven appearances with a save. Big 12 opponents are hitting just .216 against Pezely with 24 strikeouts.
Gutierrez has become a strong mid-week starter, pitching six strong innings against Creighton on last Wednesday. He tied a season-high with six strikeouts in five innings against Bethany last Wednesday with one earned run on two hits. He also pitched five solid innings against No. 8 Wichita State with three strikeouts.
WALTER NAMED BIG 12 CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK...
LHP Mitch Walter was selected as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball co-Pitcher of the week, along with Texas junior RHP Jesen Merle, on April 8 after his impressive performance from the mound in helping Kansas State to its first series win over No. 28 Texas Tech on April 5.
A native of Graton, Calif., Walter pitched eight shutout innings of relief of starter Ross Hawley in the Wildcats' history-making 15-inning 7-5 win over No. 28 Texas Tech on Friday in Lubbock, Texas. Walter allowed just two hits with a season-high seven strikeouts and two walks in the longest outing of the season. His previous longest outing of the year had been 3-1/3 innings of relief against Florida Atlantic on March 16, which also represented his previous season-high in strikeouts (four). In a game with nearly 500 pitches, he threw an amazing 112, including 74 strikes.
Walter currently leads the team in both earned run average (2.45) and appearances (13). He picked up his team-leading fourth save of the season on Saturday in the Wildcats' 7-6 victory over Texas A&M, the program's first win in College Station in more than 10 years (1991). He has posted a 3-2 record this season in 29.1 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts and 10 walks. Opposing batters are hitting just .216 against him.
ONE HECK OF A BALLGAME...
Kansas State made history in a number of ways in 15-inning 7-5 victory over Texas Tech on April 5.
The 15-inning affair lasted a school-record four hours and 45 minutes and finished at 11:50 p.m.
It tied for the longest game in school history, matching the 15-inning contest thrown against Creighton at home on March 23, 1986.
The win represented the 700th in the career of head coach Mike Clark in 23 seasons at Kansas State and Northeast Oklahoma A&M.
The win was the first against Texas Tech in Lubbock after seven tries.
The win was just the third in 14 meetings against the Red Raiders.
The win put K-State above .500 for the first time ever in Big 12 play.
There was nearly 500 pitches thrown in the game. Texas Tech threw 258 pitches, while Kansas State tossed 232 on the evening.
Of the 33 combined hits, only two were for extra bases (both for Texas Tech). All 22 hits for Kansas State were singles.
The Wildcats stranded 16 runners and struck out 20 times.
Kansas State set seven (7) team season-highs for at-bats (62), strikeouts (20), sacrifice hits (three), runners LOB (16), putouts (45), assists (18), innings pitched (15), while Wildcat players set highs for individuals in at-bats (eight by Doty and Taylor), strikeouts (four by Pat Maloney), fielding (20 by Brett Williams), assists (6 by Taylor).
Mitch Walter allowed just two hits with a career-best seven strikeouts in eight innings of relief to earn Big 12 co-Pitcher of the Week.
Texas Tech tied it at 5-all in the bottom of the eighth on two-run shot by SS Gera Alvarez.
K-State finally broke through in the top of 15th on back-to-back singles by Brett Williams and pinch-hitter turned catcher Ryan Baldwin. After a strikeout and an intentional walk to SS Osmar Castillo, Brandon Taylor hit a ball off the glove of pitcher Steve Rowe that bounced through the legs of second baseman, allowing Williams to score the winning run.
