Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, March 30
Manhattan, Kan.
2 p.m.
Kansas State University
vs
Texas Tech
K-State Meets No. 10 TTU in Big 12 Home Opener
Mar 28, 2019 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State returns home following a four-game road swing to open its Big 12 home schedule on Friday at 6 p.m., as No. 10 Texas Tech visits Tointon Family Stadium for a three-game series.
K-State will send Griffin Hassall to the hill for the series opener, marking his third straight Friday start. Left-handed freshman Jordan Wicks, who ranks fifth in the Big 12 in both ERA and strikeouts, is slated to work in Game 2.
K-State (11-14, 0-3 Big 12) is 16-14 all-time at home against Texas Tech (16-6, 1-2 Big 12). TTU will be the first top-25 opponent the Wildcats have faced in 2019.
The entire three-game set will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Coverage is also available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with streaming audio at K-StateSports.com/watch.
GAME #26
K-STATE (11-14, 0-3 BIG 12) vs. NO. 10 TEXAS TECH (16-6, 1-2 BIG 12)
Friday, March 27 // 6 p.m. // Tointon Family Stadium (2,334) // Manhattan, Kan.
Projected Starters: RHP Griffin Hassall (0-0, 2.03 ERA) vs. RHP Micah Dallas (2-0, 1.88 ERA)
Watch: ESPN3 // ESPN app // John Kurtz (pxp), Mike Clark (analyst), Bridget Howard (sideline)
Radio: K-State Sports Radio Network // Brian Smoller, Matt Walters
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch
Promotion: Dollar Dog Friday | Buy Tickets
Watch | Listen Online | Live Stats
GAME #27
K-STATE (11-14, 0-3 BIG 12) vs. NO. 10 TEXAS TECH (16-6, 1-2 BIG 12)
Friday, March 27 // 6 p.m. // Tointon Family Stadium (2,334) // Manhattan, Kan.
Projected Starters: LHP Jordan Wicks (3-0, 1.83 ERA) vs. RHP Caleb Kilian (2-2, 5.34 ERA)
Watch: ESPN3 // ESPN app // John Kurtz (pxp), Mike Clark (analyst), Bridget Howard (sideline)
Radio: News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Brian Smoller, Matt Walters
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch // 1350kman.com
Promotion: Postgame Autographs // Playing Card Giveaway | Buy Tickets
Watch | Listen Online | Live Stats
GAME #28
K-STATE (11-14, 0-3 BIG 12) vs. NO. 10 TEXAS TECH (16-6, 1-2 BIG 12)
Friday, March 27 // 6 p.m. // Tointon Family Stadium (2,334) // Manhattan, Kan.
Projected Starters: TBA vs. TBA
Watch: ESPN3 // ESPN app // John Kurtz (pxp), Mike Clark (analyst), Bridget Howard (sideline)
Radio: News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Brian Smoller, Matt Walters
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch // 1350kman.com
Promotion: Bark in the Park | Buy Tickets
Watch | Listen Online | Live Stats
A LOOK AT K-STATE
K-State (11-14, 0-3 Big 12) is set for its Big 12 home-opening series Friday, as the 10th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders visit Tointon Family Stadium ... The Wildcats completed a four-game road trip, going 0-4, including being swept in three games at Oklahoma State in the initial conference series of the season ... Against the Cowboys, K-State held leads in Games 2 and 3 of the series, but was ultimately swept to begin league play for the fifth straight season ... Wednesday night, the Cats dropped an 8-5 decision at Wichita State ... After the Shockers opened a 7-1 lead after five innings before the Wildcats scored four unanswered over the seventh and eighth innings ... Thomas Hughes, Zach Kokoska and Jordan Maxson all had RBI doubles in the game ... K-State's four-game losing skid is a season high, as the Wildcats have dropped five of their six five overall.
A LOOK AT TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech visits Manhattan with a 16-6 record (1-2 Big 12) and ranked as high as No. 10 in the country ... The Red Raiders have won four of their last five games after dropping two of three games at Texas to begin the Big 12 schedule ... In non-conference action, TTU swept a three-game set vs. Michigan ... The preseason Big 12 favorites, Texas Tech is 3-2 in true road games and have won 10 of its last 13 overall ... Five Red Raiders are hitting over .300, led by Dylan Neuse at .388 with four homers and 24 RBI ... Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Josh Jung has a slash line of .342/.463/.553 to go with 18 driven in and a team-high eight doubles ... On the mound, TTU has a team ERA of 3.67 while opponents hit .257.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Texas Tech leads the all-time series 41-27-1 (36-25-1 Big 12), dating back to 1993 ... K-State is 16-14 at home against the Red Raiders ... TTU has won the last five matchups, including a three-game sweep in Lubbock last season in which the Red Raiders outscored K-State 56-16 ... K-State last won on April 13, 2017 in Manhattan in the series opener 5-3 ... TTU has won 12 of the last 13 meetings and is 14-2 against the Cats since the 2014 season ... The Wildcats last won a series vs. TTU in 2013, a three-game sweep at Tointon Family Stadium.
VS RANKED OPPONENTS
In 2018, K-State went 0-8 against teams ranked in at least one poll (South Alabama, Indiana, TCU, Texas Tech) ... In 2017, K-State was 4-7 against ranked teams, including a win at No. 4 South Carolina ... The Cats last defeated a ranked team on April 23 against No. 21 West Virginia ... This weekend's series will mark the sixth straight season K-State will face a ranked TTU team (K-State is 2-14 against Texas Tech since 2014).
IMPACT LEFTY
Freshman left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks has made six straight Saturday starts to open the season, going 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA (7 ER, 34.1 IP) while picking up 39 strikeouts to pace the Wildcats ... Wicks ranks in the league's top 10 in innings pitched. wins, ERA and strikeouts ... Three of Wicks' six starts have been quality outings and K-State is 5-1 in games he has started ... He has struck out a least six in five of his six starts and has issued just three walks over his last 18 1/3 innings of work.
WINNING TIME
In K-State's 11 wins, the Wildcats are hitting .390 (39-for-100) with runners in scoring position and .366 (49-for-131) with two outs ... Conversely, the Cats have a .201 average (28-for-129) with runners in scoring position while hitting .145 (21-for-145) with two outs over 14 losses ... K-State has produced 29 two-out RBI in victories with just 12 over 14 losses ... Overall, K-State hits nearly .100 points higher in wins as opposed to losses (.324-.236).
NO K FOR YOU
Junior Will Brennan owns the title of toughest to strike out in the Big 12, going 16 at-bats per strikeout this season (96 AB, 6 K) ... Brennan's rate is currently the 12th-best in the nation ... The Stilwell product has finished each of the last two seasons as the toughest hitter in the conference to punch out ... In 2017, Brennan had 12 strikeouts in 183 at-bats and only went down on strikes 11 times in 220 at-bats last season.
Z-U-B-R-A-D-T SPELLS RELIEF
Senior Mitch Zubradt has now thrown the final out in seven of K-State's 11 wins, including the Wildcats' first four wins of the year ... In 13 total innings thrown, Zubradt has given up just two hits without a run allowed while picking up 18 strikeouts ... He is 4-for-4 in save opportunities - the first saves of his career - with a victory ... Opponents are hitting .050 against him in 2019.
MORE MAS
K-State senior Thomas Hughes' seven-game hitting streak is the longest active streak by a Wildcat ... In that stretch, Hughes is 9-for-25 (.360) with three doubles and three RBI ... Three of his four doubles coming over the last seven games, as he has raised his average from .197 to .242 over the last seven games.
CC ARE YOU WITH ME
K-State catcher Chris Ceballos led the Cats in the Big 12 opening weekend, going 6-for-11 with a home run and two RBI ... Ceballos leads K-State with 21 runs batted in and is tied for the team lead with four home runs (Caleb Littlejim) ... The junior-college transfer leads the Wildcats in slugging at .536 with a .611 slugging percentage over his last five games ... The first-year backstop has already gunned down 11 would-be base stealers, as opponents are 17-for-28 in steal attempts against Ceballos.
FUN WITH NUMBERS
K-State has held a lead in 19 of 25 games this season and are 10-2 when leading after six innings ... When leading after eight innings, K-State is a perfect 9-0 ... The Cats have a record of 10-4 when limiting their opponent to five or fewer runs ... K-State is 0-9 when its opponent plates seven or more runs (1-10 when scoring six or more) ... Opponents have outscored the Wildcats 23-11 in the first inning of games while K-State has outscored its opponents 13-5 in the ninth inning.
K-State will send Griffin Hassall to the hill for the series opener, marking his third straight Friday start. Left-handed freshman Jordan Wicks, who ranks fifth in the Big 12 in both ERA and strikeouts, is slated to work in Game 2.
K-State (11-14, 0-3 Big 12) is 16-14 all-time at home against Texas Tech (16-6, 1-2 Big 12). TTU will be the first top-25 opponent the Wildcats have faced in 2019.
The entire three-game set will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Coverage is also available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with streaming audio at K-StateSports.com/watch.
GAME #26
K-STATE (11-14, 0-3 BIG 12) vs. NO. 10 TEXAS TECH (16-6, 1-2 BIG 12)
Friday, March 27 // 6 p.m. // Tointon Family Stadium (2,334) // Manhattan, Kan.
Projected Starters: RHP Griffin Hassall (0-0, 2.03 ERA) vs. RHP Micah Dallas (2-0, 1.88 ERA)
Watch: ESPN3 // ESPN app // John Kurtz (pxp), Mike Clark (analyst), Bridget Howard (sideline)
Radio: K-State Sports Radio Network // Brian Smoller, Matt Walters
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch
Promotion: Dollar Dog Friday | Buy Tickets
Watch | Listen Online | Live Stats
GAME #27
K-STATE (11-14, 0-3 BIG 12) vs. NO. 10 TEXAS TECH (16-6, 1-2 BIG 12)
Friday, March 27 // 6 p.m. // Tointon Family Stadium (2,334) // Manhattan, Kan.
Projected Starters: LHP Jordan Wicks (3-0, 1.83 ERA) vs. RHP Caleb Kilian (2-2, 5.34 ERA)
Watch: ESPN3 // ESPN app // John Kurtz (pxp), Mike Clark (analyst), Bridget Howard (sideline)
Radio: News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Brian Smoller, Matt Walters
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch // 1350kman.com
Promotion: Postgame Autographs // Playing Card Giveaway | Buy Tickets
Watch | Listen Online | Live Stats
GAME #28
K-STATE (11-14, 0-3 BIG 12) vs. NO. 10 TEXAS TECH (16-6, 1-2 BIG 12)
Friday, March 27 // 6 p.m. // Tointon Family Stadium (2,334) // Manhattan, Kan.
Projected Starters: TBA vs. TBA
Watch: ESPN3 // ESPN app // John Kurtz (pxp), Mike Clark (analyst), Bridget Howard (sideline)
Radio: News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Brian Smoller, Matt Walters
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch // 1350kman.com
Promotion: Bark in the Park | Buy Tickets
Watch | Listen Online | Live Stats
A LOOK AT K-STATE
K-State (11-14, 0-3 Big 12) is set for its Big 12 home-opening series Friday, as the 10th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders visit Tointon Family Stadium ... The Wildcats completed a four-game road trip, going 0-4, including being swept in three games at Oklahoma State in the initial conference series of the season ... Against the Cowboys, K-State held leads in Games 2 and 3 of the series, but was ultimately swept to begin league play for the fifth straight season ... Wednesday night, the Cats dropped an 8-5 decision at Wichita State ... After the Shockers opened a 7-1 lead after five innings before the Wildcats scored four unanswered over the seventh and eighth innings ... Thomas Hughes, Zach Kokoska and Jordan Maxson all had RBI doubles in the game ... K-State's four-game losing skid is a season high, as the Wildcats have dropped five of their six five overall.
A LOOK AT TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech visits Manhattan with a 16-6 record (1-2 Big 12) and ranked as high as No. 10 in the country ... The Red Raiders have won four of their last five games after dropping two of three games at Texas to begin the Big 12 schedule ... In non-conference action, TTU swept a three-game set vs. Michigan ... The preseason Big 12 favorites, Texas Tech is 3-2 in true road games and have won 10 of its last 13 overall ... Five Red Raiders are hitting over .300, led by Dylan Neuse at .388 with four homers and 24 RBI ... Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Josh Jung has a slash line of .342/.463/.553 to go with 18 driven in and a team-high eight doubles ... On the mound, TTU has a team ERA of 3.67 while opponents hit .257.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Texas Tech leads the all-time series 41-27-1 (36-25-1 Big 12), dating back to 1993 ... K-State is 16-14 at home against the Red Raiders ... TTU has won the last five matchups, including a three-game sweep in Lubbock last season in which the Red Raiders outscored K-State 56-16 ... K-State last won on April 13, 2017 in Manhattan in the series opener 5-3 ... TTU has won 12 of the last 13 meetings and is 14-2 against the Cats since the 2014 season ... The Wildcats last won a series vs. TTU in 2013, a three-game sweep at Tointon Family Stadium.
VS RANKED OPPONENTS
In 2018, K-State went 0-8 against teams ranked in at least one poll (South Alabama, Indiana, TCU, Texas Tech) ... In 2017, K-State was 4-7 against ranked teams, including a win at No. 4 South Carolina ... The Cats last defeated a ranked team on April 23 against No. 21 West Virginia ... This weekend's series will mark the sixth straight season K-State will face a ranked TTU team (K-State is 2-14 against Texas Tech since 2014).
IMPACT LEFTY
Freshman left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks has made six straight Saturday starts to open the season, going 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA (7 ER, 34.1 IP) while picking up 39 strikeouts to pace the Wildcats ... Wicks ranks in the league's top 10 in innings pitched. wins, ERA and strikeouts ... Three of Wicks' six starts have been quality outings and K-State is 5-1 in games he has started ... He has struck out a least six in five of his six starts and has issued just three walks over his last 18 1/3 innings of work.
WINNING TIME
In K-State's 11 wins, the Wildcats are hitting .390 (39-for-100) with runners in scoring position and .366 (49-for-131) with two outs ... Conversely, the Cats have a .201 average (28-for-129) with runners in scoring position while hitting .145 (21-for-145) with two outs over 14 losses ... K-State has produced 29 two-out RBI in victories with just 12 over 14 losses ... Overall, K-State hits nearly .100 points higher in wins as opposed to losses (.324-.236).
NO K FOR YOU
Junior Will Brennan owns the title of toughest to strike out in the Big 12, going 16 at-bats per strikeout this season (96 AB, 6 K) ... Brennan's rate is currently the 12th-best in the nation ... The Stilwell product has finished each of the last two seasons as the toughest hitter in the conference to punch out ... In 2017, Brennan had 12 strikeouts in 183 at-bats and only went down on strikes 11 times in 220 at-bats last season.
Z-U-B-R-A-D-T SPELLS RELIEF
Senior Mitch Zubradt has now thrown the final out in seven of K-State's 11 wins, including the Wildcats' first four wins of the year ... In 13 total innings thrown, Zubradt has given up just two hits without a run allowed while picking up 18 strikeouts ... He is 4-for-4 in save opportunities - the first saves of his career - with a victory ... Opponents are hitting .050 against him in 2019.
MORE MAS
K-State senior Thomas Hughes' seven-game hitting streak is the longest active streak by a Wildcat ... In that stretch, Hughes is 9-for-25 (.360) with three doubles and three RBI ... Three of his four doubles coming over the last seven games, as he has raised his average from .197 to .242 over the last seven games.
CC ARE YOU WITH ME
K-State catcher Chris Ceballos led the Cats in the Big 12 opening weekend, going 6-for-11 with a home run and two RBI ... Ceballos leads K-State with 21 runs batted in and is tied for the team lead with four home runs (Caleb Littlejim) ... The junior-college transfer leads the Wildcats in slugging at .536 with a .611 slugging percentage over his last five games ... The first-year backstop has already gunned down 11 would-be base stealers, as opponents are 17-for-28 in steal attempts against Ceballos.
FUN WITH NUMBERS
K-State has held a lead in 19 of 25 games this season and are 10-2 when leading after six innings ... When leading after eight innings, K-State is a perfect 9-0 ... The Cats have a record of 10-4 when limiting their opponent to five or fewer runs ... K-State is 0-9 when its opponent plates seven or more runs (1-10 when scoring six or more) ... Opponents have outscored the Wildcats 23-11 in the first inning of games while K-State has outscored its opponents 13-5 in the ninth inning.
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballK-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Texas
Sunday, June 01
K-State Baseball | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Sunday, June 01
K-State BSB | Game Highlights vs Houston Christian (Austin Regional)
Saturday, May 31
K-State BSB | Postgame Press Conference vs Houston Christian
Saturday, May 31