Cats’ Rally Falls Short in Extras Friday

Friday, May 11

Manhattan, Kan.

6:30 p.m.

Kansas State University

18-30, 3-19

Kansas

23-25, 6-12

Kansas

Kansas State

May 11, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (.pdf)Game Highlights

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings Friday night, but the Kansas Jayhawks received a 10^th-inning solo home run from Benjamin Sems to take the opener of the Sunflower Showdown, 9-8, in front of a sold-out crowd at Tointon Family Stadium.

The first seven K-State (18-30, 3-19 Big 12) hitters reached base safely in its five-run ninth, including four consecutive walks issued by KU (23-25, 6-12 Big 12) reliever Zack Leban that tied the game. The Wildcats entered the frame trailing 8-3, but Leban retired the final three batters he faced, including back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded to take the game into extra innings.

"That really hurts for the kids to come back and guys are ready to rush the field," head coach Brad Hill said after the game. "No outs, bases loaded and need one run to win a game and it doesn't happen. Unfortunately, that's the story of the season right there."

Freshman Jaxson Passino delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth that was followed by a Will Brennan run-producing single. K-State brought 11 hitters to the plate in the inning.

Brennan recorded in a game-high three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored while Drew Mount was 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs. Trent McMaster had a team-high two RBI.

Senior Hudson Treu, in relief of starter Kasey Ford who made his first start in four weeks, scattered just three hits and an earned run over his career-long 5 2/3 innings to go with a career-high five strikeouts.

Kansas starter Jackson Goddard struck out nine in six innings of work, yielding three runs (one earned) without a walk.

David Kyriacou and Devin Foyle each homered for the Jayhawks, both solo shots, in addition to Sems' game-winner in the ninth.

KU jumped out to a 3-0 lead after an inning and a half, highlighted Kyriacou's homer in the second. Later in the second inning, Rudy Karre laced an RBI double down the left field line and the Jayhawks had five hits in the first two innings off Ford.

K-State got one run back in the bottom half of the second when McMaster brought home Mount on an RBI groundout.

A four-run fourth, in which KU brought all nine hitters to the plate, put the Jayhawks' lead at 7-1. In the inning that was extended with two K-State errors, Jaxx Groshans drove in a pair with a single. Treu relieved Ford and struck out the first two batters he faced to end the inning.

Ford's day ended with 3 1/3 innings pitched with seven runs allowed (six earned) on seven hits with a strikeout.

"First time out, you're not going to be as sharp as what you were," said Hill of Ford's outing. "But he's a competitor and we wanted him out there."

Single runs in the fourth and fifth innings from the Cats trimmed KU's lead to 7-3. Hanz Harker belted an RBI triple in the fifth that scored Mount, who earlier singled.

A solo homer by Foyle in the sixth made the score 8-3 in favor of the Jayhawks before K-State's five-run ninth.

Ryan Cyr and Leban tossed the final four innings for KU, combining for eight strikeouts and eight walks. The three Kansas pitchers finished with 16 strikeouts, with Leban (3-2) earning the victory.

Sophomore Tyler Eckberg pitched the 10^th inning for the Cats, with his only hit allowed being Sems' go-ahead homer as he took the loss and fell to 3-2 this season.

With its seventh straight Big 12 loss, K-State is eliminated from Big 12 Championship contention.

The Wildcats and Jayhawks continue the 2018 Sunflower Showdown Saturday at 6:30, with a pregame ceremony to honor K-State six-member senior class. The game can be seen on ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Fans can listen on the K-State Sports Network.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

K-State scored eight runs on eight hits and committed two errors and left 10 runners on base. Kansas scored nine runs on 11 hits with three error and stranded seven baserunners.
Treu set career highs in innings pitched (5.2) and strikeouts (5).
Brennan had a team-high three hits while Mount had two hits, including his fifth sixth triple of the season.
K-State hitters drew eight walks and struck out 16 times.
Goddard struck out nine over six innings.
KU hit three solo homers.
K-State went 3-for-16 (.188) with runners in scoring position and limited Kansas to 1-for-9 (.111).
KU hit .375 (6-for-16) with two outs while the Wildcats hit .154 (2-for-13).

NOTES

K-State now leads the all-time series, 178-170-1, dating back to 1897.
K-State is 101-81-1 at home in the series.
Hill is now 27-19 in his career vs. KU.
K-State is mathematically eliminated from the Big 12 Championship after losing its seventh straight game.